Abstract: Risk management systems and methods for plant EPCCOM are described. The system comprises a risk management database for storing risk objects, each object representing a real-world risk mitigation factor. A risk recommendation engine is communicatively coupled to the risk management database and is configured to provide recommendations for mitigating and managing risks as a function of efficacy attributes of the risk objects. The efficacy attributes represent the effectiveness of previously implemented and/or simulated risk mitigation strategies. The efficacy attributes are preferably multi-variable dependent and are defined by prioritizing and weighing different objectives.

Abstract: A method of producing fuel from CO2 comprising introducing natural gas, steam, and recovered CO2 to a reformer to produce unshifted syngas characterized by a molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide of from about 1.7:1 to about 2.5:1; introducing the unshifted syngas to a water gas shift unit to produce a shifted syngas, wherein an amount of CO2 in the shifted syngas is greater than in the unshifted syngas; separating the CO2 from the shifted syngas to produce recycle CO2 and a hydrogen-enriched syngas; recycling the recycle CO2 to the reformer; introducing the unshifted syngas to a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) unit to produce an FT product, FT water, and FT tail gas, wherein the FT product comprises FT liquids and FT wax; and separating the FT liquids from the FT product to produce a fuel.

Abstract: A friction stir welding (FSW) tool tip is described. The tool tip comprises a pin portion and a body portion that meet to form a shoulder. The tool tip has a graduated change in composition along its length. In some embodiments, the alloy composition near the end of the pin differs from the alloy composition of the body by at least 0.5% by wt of at least one element. A method of manufacturing a FSW tool tip having a gradual compositional change is also described.

Abstract: A steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) processing facility comprising: an oil/water separation process block operable for bulk separation of produced water from a produced fluid comprising produced water and hydrocarbons; a de-oiling process block operable to remove residual oil from the produced water separated from the produced fluid in the oil/water separation process block and provide a de-oiled water; a water treatment block operable to remove contaminants from the de-oiled water and provide a treated water; and a steam generation process block operable to produce steam from the treated water. In embodiments, each of the oil/water separation process block, the de-oiling process block, the water treatment process block, and the steam generation process block is modularized and comprises a plurality of modules. Methods for operating and assembling a SAGD processing facility are also provided.

Abstract: A method of diverting municipal solid waste (MSW) from a landfill that includes receiving, at a MSW processing system, a quantity of MSW, gasifying the quantity of MSW in a gasification unit to yield a syngas stream and biochar stream, converting at least a portion of the syngas to mixed alcohols in an alcohol synthesis unit, separating the mixed alcohols into one or more alcohol products, and determining a carbon offset for diverting the MSW from the landfill to the MSW processing system.

Abstract: A duct assembly for flowing fluids includes a first duct positioned above the ground. The first duct is configured to flow a first fluid. In addition, the duct assembly includes a second duct positioned above the ground. The second duct is configured to flow a second fluid. The first duct and the second duct isolate the first fluid and the second fluid from each other. Further, the duct assembly includes a stand supporting the first duct and the second duct above the ground. The stand has an upper end positioned below the first duct and the second duct.

Abstract: A system for removing oxygenates from a hydrocarbon stream includes a caustic wash unit comprising a plurality of caustic wash loops, and a hydrogenation reactor. The hydrogenation reactor is configured to receive a first gaseous stream from a first caustic wash loop of the plurality of caustic wash loops and pass a second gaseous stream from the hydrogenation reactor to a second caustic wash loop of the plurality of caustic wash loops, wherein the hydrogenation reactor comprises a sulfided catalyst.

Abstract: Plants and methods are presented for crude feed pre-processing before feeding the crude feed into a crude unit or vacuum unit. Pre-processing is preferably achieved with a combination of a preflash drum and a preflash column that allows for high-temperature treatment of the liquids and separate vapor phase handling, which advantageously enables retrofitting existing plants to accommodate lighter crude feeds.

Abstract: A plant comprises a feed gas source, H2S removal unit, first absorber and a second, pressure reduction stages, first and second heat exchangers, stripping unit, and a conduit. The H2S removal unit selectively removes H2S from a feed gas from the feed gas source to produce an H2S depleted feed gas. The first absorber and the second absorber remove CO2 from the H2S depleted feed gas using a semi-lean and an ultralean solvent to produce a product gas and a rich solvent. The plurality of pressure reduction stages generates a cooled flashed solvent. The first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger use the cooled flashed solvent to cool the H2S depleted feed gas and the semi-lean solvent. The stripping unit strips the flashed solvent with dried air to produce the ultralean solvent, and the conduit combines a portion of the ultralean solvent with the H2S depleted feed gas.

Abstract: A method of processing stranded remote gas comprising (a) introducing stranded remote gas and steam to a reforming unit to produce synthesis gas (syngas), wherein the stranded remote gas comprises methane, carbon dioxide, and sulfur-containing compounds, and wherein the syngas is characterized by a molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide of from about 1.7:1 to about 2.5:1; (b) introducing at least a portion of the syngas to a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) unit to produce an FT syncrude product, FT water, and FT tail gas, wherein the FT syncrude product comprises FT hydrocarbon liquids, wherein the FT syncrude product comprises FT wax in an amount of less than about 5 wt. %, and wherein the FT unit is characterized by an FT reaction temperature of from about 300° C. to about 350° C.; and (c) blending the FT syncrude product with crude oil for storage and/or transport.

Abstract: Systems and processes for reducing carbon capture emissions are described. The process involves introducing a radical species into a decarbonized combustion gas. The radical species react with residual amines or unwanted compounds in the decarbonized combustion gas, thus reducing the concentration of residual amines or unwanted compounds in the exhaust gas. The system includes a carbon capture absorber with non-thermal plasma generator configured to provide radical species reducing the concentration of residual amines or unwanted compounds in the exhaust combustion gas.

Abstract: Contemplated systems and methods for removing polysulfides and hydrogen sulfide from liquid sulfur of a Claus plant include (a) physically separated steps of catalytic decomposition of polysulfides and gas stripping, or (b) use of the stripping gas as the continuous phase in a packed column with decomposition catalyst to so avoid catalyst attrition.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen comprising receiving a sour gas comprising CO2, H2S, and ammonia from a sour water stripper; introducing the sour gas to an absorption system to produce an ammonia rich gas and a sulfide rich gas, wherein the ammonia rich gas comprises ammonia and CO2, and wherein the sulfide rich gas comprises H2S and CO2; compressing the ammonia rich gas in a compressing unit to a pressure of 400-600 psig to produce a compressed ammonia rich gas; introducing the compressed ammonia rich gas to an ammonia cracker unit comprising a catalyst to produce a cracked gas, wherein the ammonia cracker unit is characterized by a cracking temperature of 450-550° C., and wherein the cracked gas comprises hydrogen, nitrogen, and CO2; and introducing the cracked gas to a PSA unit to produce hydrogen and a PSA tail gas, wherein the PSA tail gas comprises nitrogen and CO2.

Abstract: A system for carbon dioxide capture from a gas mixture comprises an absorber that receives a lean solvent system stream (containing a chemical solvent, physical-solvent, and water) from the stripper, a stripper that receives the rich solvent stream from the absorber and produces the product carbon dioxide and the lean solvent through the use of a reboiler in fluid communication with a lower portion of the stripper, a condenser in fluid communication with a vapor outlet of the stripper, a cross-exchanger in fluid communication with a rich solvent system outlet from the absorber and a rich solvent system inlet on the stripper, and a splitter. The splitter is configured to separate the rich solvent system stream into a first portion and second portion, where the first portion directly passes to the stripper and the second portion passes through the cross-exchanger prior to passing to the stripper.

Abstract: A method for operating a natural gas liquids processing (NGL) system, the system being selectively configured in either an ethane rejection configuration or an ethane recovery configuration, the method comprising, when the NGL system is in the ethane rejection configuration, collecting a reboiler bottom stream that, in the ethane rejection configuration, includes ethane in an amount of less than 5% by volume, and when the NGL system is in the ethane recovery configuration, collecting a reboiler bottom stream that, in the ethane recovery configuration, includes ethane in an amount of at least about 30% by volume.

Abstract: Systems and methods that utilize feed gases that are supplied in a wide range of compositions and pressure to provide highly efficient recovery of NGL products, such as propane, utilizing isenthalpic expansion, propane refrigeration, and shell and tube exchangers are described. Plants utilizing such systems and methods can be readily reconfigured between propane recovery and ethane recovery.

Abstract: Separating propane and heavier hydrocarbons from a feed stream by cooling the feed stream, introducing the chilled feed stream into a feed stream separation unit, pumping the separator bottom stream, introducing the pressurized separator bottom stream into a stripper column, reducing the pressure of the separator overhead stream, introducing the letdown separator overhead stream into an absorber column, collecting a stripper overhead stream from the stripper column, chilling the stripper overhead stream, reducing the pressure of the chilled stripper overhead stream, introducing the letdown stripper overhead stream into the absorber column, collecting an absorber bottom stream, pumping the absorber bottom stream, heating the absorber bottom stream, introducing the heated absorber bottom stream into the stripper column, and collecting the stripper bottom stream from the stripper column. The stripper column bottom stream includes the propane and heavier hydrocarbons and less than about 2.0% of ethane by volume.

Abstract: Plants and methods are presented for crude feed pre-processing before feeding the crude feed into a crude unit or vacuum unit. Pre-processing is preferably achieved with a combination of a preflash drum and a preflash column that allows for high-temperature treatment of the liquids and separate vapor phase handling, which advantageously enables retrofitting existing plants to accommodate lighter crude feeds.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treatment of produced water form a steam assisted gravity drain operation are presented in which tight emulsions, total organic compounds, and solids are removed using a skim tanks that receives a multiphase mixture formed from a demulsifier and the produced water and that produces pre-treated water. The so formed pre-treated water is then subject to further total organic compounds reduction via combination with one or more oxidizing biocide to so form treated water that can be fed to a once through steam generator (OTSG) for re-injection into a formation.

Abstract: A subsea wellbore protection (SWP) system. The SWP system includes a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation beneath a sea floor and a SWP structure positioned below-grade with respect to the sea floor. The SWP structure comprises a caisson that encloses a first wellbore equipment component. The first wellbore equipment component is in fluid communication with the wellbore.