Abstract: A catalyst bed is made of a monolith having a plurality of pores extending through the monolith, the pores forming tortuous flow paths through the monolith. The tortuous flow paths are obtained by modifying the monolith channels with turbulence-inducing objects or means. Catalyst is disposed on the wall surfaces formed by the pores. Reactants are passed through the tortuous flow paths creating turbulent flow thereby increasing the contact of the reactants with the catalyst on the wall surfaces and the mixing across the reactant stream.

Abstract: Mixed metal carbide catalysts that are active for catalyzing the net partial oxidation of methane to CO and H2 are disclosed, along with their method of making. The preferred catalysts of the invention comprise a mixture of at least two carbided metals that are prepared by the reaction of the metal oxides, alkoxides or nitrates with a hydrocarbon of the formula CnH2n+2 wherein n is an integer from 1 to 4. Optionally, the catalysts include an additional promoter and/or a catalyst support. Preferred catalysts are at least 50 wt % molybdenum, tungsten or chromium, and also contain a second metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, chromium, iron, niobium, tantalum, rhenium, cobalt, copper, tin and bismuth.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing hydrocarbons. The process involves contacting a feed stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a catalyst in a reaction zone maintained at conversion-promoting conditions effective to produce an effluent stream comprising hydrocarbons. In accordance with this invention, the catalyst used in the process preferably includes at least cobalt, rhenium, and a promoter selected from the group including boron, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, and vanadium. The catalyst may also comprise a support material selected from the group including silica, titania, titania/alumina, zirconia, alumina, aluminum fluoride, and fluorided aluminas.

Abstract: A process for the production of synthesis gas from light hydrocarbons such as methane includes the net catalytic partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon feedstock by contacting a feed stream comprising the hydrocarbon feedstock and an O2-containing gas with a catalyst in a reaction zone maintained at conversion-promoting conditions effective to produce an effluent stream of H2 and CO in a molar ratio of about 2:1. A preferred catalyst used in the process includes at least one catalytically active metal supported on a catalyst support comprising an aluminum-containing, oxide-dispersion-strengthened, alloy that has been treated to provide a protective oxide layer between the support and the catalytically active metal.

Abstract: Asphalt compositions as well as asphalt paving compositions are improved by the inclusion of coated mesophase pitch carbon fibers having wax or waxy coatings to such compositions. Uses of such asphalt compositions, particularly with aggregates to form asphalt paving compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for installing a floating platform to the ocean floor using a spoolable (preferably composite) tether, comprising installing the spooled tether onto the floating platform; towing the floating platform to a site for installation; unspooling the tether; connecting a bottom end connector of the tether to a foundation on the ocean floor; and connecting a top end connector of the tether to the floating platform. A preferred floating platform is a tension leg platform, and the invention includes a novel tension leg platform (TLP) comprising a spooled tether installed thereon. In a preferred embodiment the foundation is a suction anchor, and the suction anchor is connected to the bottom end connector prior to unspooling the tether and attached to the ocean floor after unspooling the tether. The floating platform may be uninstalled, moved and re-installed according to the invention.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for producing alcohols, particularly methanol, according to an alcohol synthesis process. The apparatus comprises a catalytic distillation reactor where reactants are fed into the catalytic distillation reactor to undergo catalytic reaction to form methanol. Methanol production beyond the thermodynamic limit is achieved in the apparatus through use of multiple distillation stages, preferably at least three.

Abstract: A process of preparing a product gas mixture comprising CO and H2 from a light hydrocarbon and O2 mixture is disclosed. The process includes contacting a reactant gas mixture comprising a C1-C5 hydrocarbon and a source of molecular oxygen with a catalytically effective amount of a supported catalyst comprising nickel and rhodium. The catalyst and reactant gas mixture is maintained at catalytic partial oxidation promoting conditions of temperature and pressure during the contacting period, which is preferably 10 milliseconds or less. Certain preferred catalysts comprise an alloy of about 1-50 weight percent nickel and about 0.01-10 weight percent rhodium on a porous refractory support structure.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for regenerating catalyst used in a process for synthesizing hydrocarbons. The synthesis process involves contacting a feed stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a catalyst in a reaction zone maintained at conversion-promoting conditions effective to produce an effluent stream comprising hydrocarbons. The regeneration. process comprises contacting a deactivated Fischer-Tropsch catalyst with a steam under regeneration-promoting conditions, for a period of time sufficient to reactivate the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.

Abstract: Rhodium-spinel catalysts with activity for efficiently catalyzing the net partial oxidation of methane at high selectivities for CO and H2 products are disclosed, along with their method of making. A syngas production process employing such catalysts for the net catalytic partial oxidation of a C1-C5 hydrocarbon (e.g., natural gas or methane) to a product gas mixture comprising CO and H2 is also disclosed. Preferred reaction conditions include maintaining the catalyst at a temperature of about 400-1,200° C., superatmospheric pressure, and flow rate sufficient to pass the reactant gas mixture over the catalyst at space velocities of at least about 100,000-25,000,000 hr−1.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing hydrocarbons. The process involves contacting a feed stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a catalyst in a reaction zone maintained at conversion-promoting conditions effective to produce an effluent stream comprising hydrocarbons. In accordance with this invention, the catalyst used in the process includes at least a Fischer-Tropsch metal and boron. The Fischer-Tropsch metal preferably includes cobalt and optionally ruthenium or platinum. The catalyst may also comprise a support material selected from the group including silica, titania, titania/alumina, zirconia, alumina, aluminum fluoride, and fluorided aluminas.

Abstract: A method for controlling a subsea well that includes shutting at least one blowout preventer, opening at least one isolation line, and circulating an influx out of a well while an inlet pressure of a subsea mudlift pump is adjusted to maintain a substantially constant drill pipe pressure at an initial circulating pressure. After the influx is circulated out of the well, drilling mud with a kill mud weight is pumped into the well. The drill pipe pressure is reduced according to a preselected drill pipe pressure decline schedule until the kill mud weight drilling mud reaches the bottom of the well. The drill pipe pressure is then maintained at a final circulating pressure by adjusting the inlet pressure of the subsea mudlift pump. The kill mud weight drilling mud is then circulated from the well bottom to the surface at the final circulating pressure.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing hydrocarbons. The process involves contacting a feed stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a catalyst in a reaction zone maintained at conversion-promoting conditions effective to produce an effluent stream comprising hydrocarbons, and uses a catalyst including (a) at least one catalytic metal for Fischer-Tropsch reactions (e.g., iron, cobalt, nickel and/or ruthenium) and (b) a non-layered mesoporous support which exhibits an X-ray diffraction after calcination that has at least one peak at a d-spacing of greater than 18 Ångstrom units.

Abstract: A method of determination of fluid pressures in a subsurface region of the earth uses seismic velocities and calibrations relating the seismic velocities to the effective stress on the subsurface sediments. The seismic velocities may be keyed to defined seismic horizons and may be obtained from many methods, including velocity spectra, post-stack inversion, pre-stack inversion, VSP or tomography. Overburden stresses may be obtained from density logs, relations between density and velocity, or front inversion of potential fields data. The seismic data may be P-P, P-S, or S-S data. The calibrations may be predetermined or may be derived from well information including well logs and well pressure measurements. The calibrations may also include the effect of unloading. The determined pressures may be used in the analysis of fluid flow in reservoirs, basin and prospect modeling and in fault integrity analysis.

Abstract: Mixed metal carbide catalysts that are active for catalyzing the net partial oxidation of methane to CO and H2 are disclosed, along with their method of making. The preferred catalysts of the invention comprise a mixture of at least two carbided metals that are prepared by the reaction of the metal oxides, alkoxides or nitrates with a hydrocarbon of the formula CnH2n+2 wherein n is an integer from 1 to 4. Optionally, the catalysts include an additional promoter and/or a catalyst support. Preferred catalysts are at least 50 wt % molybdenum, tungsten or chromium, and also contain a second metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, chromium, iron, niobium, tantalum, rhenium, cobalt, copper, tin and bismuth.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided to improve production from a gas-lift well comprising injecting gas into a well to lift multi-phase formation fluid from the well; measuring at least one characteristic of the multi-phase formation fluid with a multi-phase flow meter while the fluid is in multi-phase form determining a value of the at least one characteristic from the measurement and adjusting at least one injection gas characteristic based on the determined value, the adjustment tending to improve well system production.

Abstract: An improved delayed coking unit with at least one coke drum wherein said coke drum comprises a substantially closed interior, a top portion having an aperture, an overhead vapor outlet nozzle removably connected to the aperture, and a deflector for deflecting solids and heavy hydrocarbon liquids from exiting said interior of said coke drum through said aperture.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for treating a stream containing H2S are disclosed. A preferred method comprises mixing the stream containing H2S with a light hydrocarbon stream and an oxygen containing stream to form a feed stream, contacting the feed stream with a catalyst for less than about 10000 microseconds while simultaneously raising the temperature of the stream sufficiently to allow oxidation of the H2S and partial oxidation of the light hydrocarbon to produce a product stream containing elemental sulfur, CO and hydrogen, and cooling the product stream sufficiently to condense at least a portion of the elemental sulfur and produce a tail gas.

Abstract: Pulsed power sources are installed in one or more wells in the reservoir interval. The pulse sources include (1) an electrohydraulic generator that produces an intense and short lived electromagnetic pulse that travels at the speed of light through the reservoir, and an acoustic pulse from the plasma vaporization of water placed around the source that propagates through the reservoir at the speed of sound in the reservoir and (2) an electromagnetic generator that produces only an intense and short lived electromagnetic pulse that travels at the speed of light through the reservoir. The combination of electrohydraulic and electromagnetic generators in the reservoir causes both the acoustic vibration and electromagnetically-induced high-frequency vibrations occur over an area of the reservoir where stimulation is desired.

Abstract: A method for determining formation pore pressure uses seismic data to derive an initial density model. Potential fields data are then used to derive the lower boundary of anomalous density zones (e.g., salt, shale diapirs, igneous or magmatic formations) by an inversion process. The model data are integrated vertically in two or three dimensions to determine an overburden stress for the subsurface that includes a proper treatment of the anomalous density zone. The velocity measurements determined from the seismic data are used to determine the effective stress based on appropriate relationships between effective stress and velocity. The fluid pressure is then obtained as the difference between the overburden stress and the effective stress.