Abstract: A process and system is provided to produce and dedust oil from oil shale and other types of solid hydrocarbon-containing material. In the process, raw oil shale is retorted, preferably with solid heat carrier material, to liberate an effluent product stream of hydrocarbons containing entrained particulates of dust derived from the oil shale or other solid hydrocarbon-containing material. A fraction of oil containing most of the dust is separated from the effluent product stream and fed to one or more dedusters. The dust-laden oil is dissolved in a special mixture of dedusting solvents which contains both polar and non-polar dedusting solvents. In the deduster, the dissolved oil is separated into a dedusted stream of oil and solvents and a residual stream of dust-laden sludge. Solvents are recovered from the dedusted stream as well as the sludge. The recovered solvents are recycled to the deduster for use in dedusting the oil.

Abstract: A novel cement composition comprising (1) cement, (2) at least one polysaccharide, and (3) a viscosity modifying amount of a 1,2-dicarbonyl; aqueous slurries prepared from these novel cement compositions and a method of cementing casing in the borehole of a well using such novel aqueous cement slurries.

Abstract: Greater product yield and quality and continuous upgrading of shale oil with hydrogen-rich, purge mode off gases is attained by pulsing in situ retorts at different phases and intervals. In the process, flow of feed gases to the flame fronts of underground retorts are sequentially stopped and purged while continuously retorting the oil shale to enhance transfer of sensible heat from the combustion zones to the retorting zones and enlarge the separation between the combustion zones and the advancing fronts of the retorting zones. The flame fronts can be purged with steam, water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, combustion mode off gases, purge mode off gases, reactor off gases, or combinations thereof. The combustion mode off gases and/or purge mode off gases can also be used as part of the feed gas or fuel gas.

Abstract: A process is provided to produce, stabilize, dedust and upgrade synthetic oil, such as shale oil. In the process, synthetic fuels, such as oil shale, tar sands and diatomite are retorted with heat carrier material to liberate an effluent product stream comprising hydrocarbons and entrained particulates of dust. In order to minimize polymerization of the product stream and agglomerate the dust, the product stream is stabilized, upgraded, and pretreated prior to dedusting, in a hydroprocessor, such as an ebullated bed reactor, with a hydroprocessing gas in the presence of a catalyst. The hydroprocessing gas can be hydrogen, scrubbed fractionator gases, or hydrocarbon-enriched hydroprocessor off gases.

Abstract: A process is provided to produce and dedust oil from oil shale and other types of solid hydrocarbon-containing material. In the process, raw oil shale or other solid hydrocarbon-containing material is retorted, preferably with solid heat carrier material, to liberate an effluent product stream of hydrocarbons containing entrained particulates of dust derived from the oil shale or other solid hydrocarbon-containing material. A fraction of oil containing most of the dust is separated from the effluent product stream and fed to one or more dedusters. The dust-laden oil is dissolved in a special dedusting solvent which contains both polar and non-polar solvents. In the deduster, the dissolved oil is separated into a dedusted stream of oil and solvents and a residual stream of dust-laden sludge. Solvents are recovered from the dedusted stream as well as the sludge. The recovered solvents are recycled to the deduster for use in dedusting the oil.

Abstract: A one-step solution technique for preparing an aromatic polyimide acid which comprises reacting an aromatic dianhydride with an aromatic diamine in the presence of diglyme and a sufficient amount of a co-solvent to maintain the polyimide acid in solution, said co-solvent having the formula:ROHwhere R is H, an aliphatic branched or straight-chain hydrocarbon having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a methoxy substituted aliphatic branched or straight-chain hydrocarbon having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process is provided for retorting synthetic fuels, such as oil shale, and disposing of the tailings in an environmentally acceptable manner. In the process, raw synthetic fuels are retorted in a surface retort to produce synthetic oil. The synthetic oil is dedusted and upgraded. The retorted synthetic fuels can be combusted and moisturized to generate heat for the retort, produce steam, and facilitate handling of the residual waste material (tailings). A disposal site of spent synthetic fuels, spent upgrading catalyst, dust, and/or other material is formed with vapor breaks at one or more levels in the pile. Air is passed through the vapor breaks to evaporate leachate rather than permitting the leachate to carry pollutants from the pile into the ground and surrounding bodies of water.

Abstract: An hydraulic packer assembly for sealing an annulus between a well casing and a tubing string inserted within the well casing comprises a packer (10) and a setting tool (12). The packer includes a packer body (22) having an internal bore (23) with a seal (18) and gripping members (20) mounted on its exterior surface for engaging the interior surface of the well casing. Actuating mechanisms are provided within the packer for expanding the seal and gripping members into contact with the casing wall, which mechanisms include a piston and cylinder arrangement operated by fluid pressure conveyed from the tool interior to the cylinder. The setting tool is releasably coupled to the packer body to mount it on a tubing string and for conveying fluid pressure to the actuating mechanisms. Seals on the setting tool provide a fluid tight seal between the setting tool and the axial bore through the packer body.

Abstract: A process for the polymerization of ethylene using as the catalyst a novel solid catalytic complex comprising Mg, Si, and either Ti or V. An organoaluminum co-catalyst is also employed. The novel catalytic complex is prepared by a process which comprises:(a) reacting a silanol having the formula ##STR1## where R, R' and R" can be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms or phenyl or substituted phenyl where such substituents have from one to three alkyl groups, and alkyl group having from one to four carbon atoms and where R" can additionally be selected from --OH, with a magnesium dialkyl where each alkyl group can have from one to 12 carbon atoms to form a first reaction product;(b) reacting said first reaction product with trichlorosilane to form a second reaction product; and(c) reacting said second reaction product with a metal compound having the formula:MeX.sub.

Abstract: A one-step solution technique for preparing an aromatic polyimide acid which comprises reacting an aromatic dianhydride with an aromatic diamine in the presence of propylene glycol methyl ether.

Abstract: A system for automatically controlling the intermittent pumping of a well minimizes fluid pound occurrence without reducing well production. The pump is operated in a learn mode until pump-off of the well when the pump is deactivated for a preset period. The pump is then operated in a control mode in which the pump is repeatedly cycled on to pump the well for at least one stroke less than the pumping time of the learn mode and then off for a preset period. Control mode operation is continued for a predetermined number of cycles after which the learn mode operation is repeated to reset the pumping time for the control mode operation.

Abstract: A novel adhesive composition effective in bonding low-energy plastic surfaces to each other which provides a tensile lap shear strength in excess of about 520 pounds per square inch gauge which comprises (1) an ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer having from about four to about 30 weight percent of a vinyl ester and a melt index of about 0.5 to about 75; (2) a tackifier selected from the group consisting of (a) a rosin, (b) a rosin ester, (c) a terpene resin, (d) a terpene-phenolic resin and (e) a rosin-modified phenolic resin; and (3) a polyethylene wax having a molecular weight of about 750 to about 3000, a penetration of about 0.25 to about 1.5, a density of about 0.93 to about 0.97, a melting point of at least about 110.degree. C. and a linearity of at least about 70 percent, said novel adhesive composition having a Ring and Ball softening point of at least about 110.degree. C.

Abstract: An oil shale process is provided to retort oil shale and purify oil shale retort water. In the process, raw oil shale is retorted in an in situ underground retort or in an above ground retort to liberate shale oil, light hydrocarbon gases and oil shale retort water. The retort water is separated from the shale oil and gases in a sump or in a fractionator or quench tower followed by an API oil/water separator. After the retort water is separated from the shale oil, the retort water is steam stripped, carbon adsorbed and biologically treated, preferably by granular carbon adsorbers followed by activated sludge treatment or by activated sludge containing powdered activated carbon. The retort water can be granularly filtered before being steam stripped. The purified retort water can be used in various other oil shale processes, such as dedusting, scrubbing, spent shale moisturing, backfilling, in situ feed gas injection and pulsed combustion.

Abstract: A plugging apparatus is provided to reliably plug a bottomless blast hole in underground oil shale retorts and oil and gas wells. The plugging apparatus has a special electrically powered sequencer which automatically lowers and releases a bag of cementatious slurry, supported by a drainpipe-reinforced concrete disc, from a canister to form a composite blasting plug in the blast hole.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for blasting in situ oil shale retorts, and oil and gas wells. In the process, a specially formed concrete plug is installed at a desired depth in a bottomless blast hole and an explosive charge is placed upon the plug and detonated to blast the underground formation. The plug is accurately and reliably set by lowering a canister, which releasably houses a bag support assembly supporting a bag of concrete slurry, to a desired depth into the blast hole. The bag support assembly and bag of wet concrete are subsequently dropped a fixed distance below the canister. The bag of concrete expands, dries, and hardens against the walls of the blast hole to form a permanent stationary plug across the blast hole. In the preferred process, the bag support assembly is formed by casting a concrete disc around a drainpipe, and the bag support assembly is lowered and released from the canister with the aid of an electrically powered sequencer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a class of novel 1-benzoyl-3-thiosemicarbazides which are useful as plant growth regulants. The present invention is also directed to methods and formulations for plant growth regulation.

Abstract: A novel cement composition for the preparation of a novel aqueous slurry useful in cementing casing in the borehole of a well comprising (1) cement, (2) (a) a hydroxyethylcellulose ether having a critical viscosity or (2) (b) a mixture of a hydroxyethylcellulose ether having a critical viscosity and of a hydroxypropylcellulose ether having a critical viscosity and (3) a dispersant.

Abstract: A novel cement composition for the preparation of a novel aqueous slurry useful in cementing casing in the borehole of a well comprising (1) cement, (2) (a) a hydroxyethylcellulose ether or (2) (b) a mixture of a hydroxyethylcellulose ether and a hydroxypropylcellulose ether, (3) a polysaccharide produced as a result of microbial action and (4) a dispersant.

Abstract: A flame front is ignited and passed through an underground oil shale retort to produce shale oil. The flame front is supported by a specially blended feed gas consisting essentially of air, steam and retort off gases. Product yield and quality are increased by varying the volumetric ratio of air, steam and retort off gases in the feed gas during retorting in proportion to the oil yield, or the relative richness, leanness and kerogen content of the oil shale being heated by the flame front, or in proportion to the amount of carbon residue on the retorted shale being combusted.

Abstract: Greater product yield and quality as well as simplified gas recovery can be attained by a huff and puff process for retorting oil shale. The process can be advantageously carried out in in situ retorts under ground as well as in surface retorts above ground. In the process, an active retort of raw oil shale is retorted without prior combustion of oil shale therein with retort off gases, which have been heated in a spent shale retort. In the preferred mode, retort off gases from the active retort and air are alternately injected into the spent retort to cyclically heat the off gases and combust the coked shale. The retort off gases can be deoiled and optionally scrubbed of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide before being heated in the spent retort.