Abstract: A free standing riser system includes a riser, a subsea intervention unit, and an umbilical line. The riser includes interconnected joints linked to one another, a lower-end of the riser being coupled to a wellhead and an upper-end of the riser enclosed in a buoy assembly, including a terminal, the riser being maintained in an erect, substantially vertical position. The subsea intervention unit is provided above the riser, and includes three connections: one connection to the terminal of the riser, one connection to a flexible jumper that is connected to a FPU, and one connection that provides a vertical conveyance to an intervention rig.

Abstract: A process is described for the purification of estolides for subsequent use as lubricants. This purification process comprises the removal of free fatty acids present in the estolide by liquid-liquid extraction using an alcohol, preferably ethanol or methanol, as solvent, where the total acid number of the estolide after purification is less than 1 mg KOH/g of sample, which endows it with characteristics of oxidation stability suitable for its use as a lubricant.

Abstract: An aviation gasoline (Avgas) formulation free from tetraethyl lead (TEL) for piston driven aircraft is described, the formulation comprising, in volume percent, between 0 and 65.2 base alkylate, between 0 and 50 super-alkylate, between 0 and 25 toluene, between 2 and 10 of a toluidine isomer blend, between 0 and 5 ethyl alcohol, between 0 and 25 C5 cut and between 0 and 10 triptane. The formulations are prepared by admixing the components, with the order of mixing being from the denser to the less dense, except in the case of the toluidine isomer blend, which in spite of being the denser product is the latest to be added to the other streams in order to by-pass homogenization problems.

Abstract: This invention relates to equipment and a subsea pumping system using a subsea module installed on the sea bed, preferably away from a production well and intended to pump hydrocarbons having a high associated gas fraction produced by one or more subsea production wells to the surface. One object of this invention is achieved by means of the design of a pumping module (PM) which is linked to pumping equipment already present in a production well and which basically comprises: an inlet pipe (2), separator equipment (3), a first pump (4) and a second pump (8). In the subsea pumping system for the production of hydrocarbons with a high gas fraction, the other object of this invention, when oil is pumped from the production well (P) the well pump (13) increases the energy of the fluid in the form of pressure and transmits this increase in energy in the form of an increase in suction pressure in the second pump (8) of the subsea module (PM).

Abstract: This invention relates to a restrictive seal of the labyrinth type of reduced external size. The invention has an inner deflector which is capable of retaining the lubricating oil within the bearing housing with great efficiency, and a highly accurate system for adjusting and aligning the elements of the labyrinths, ensuring an infinite service life. Because it has very much smaller external dimensions it can be applied as a replacement to the lip seals commonly in use without causing problems to accessory equipment connected to a pump.

Abstract: A Torpedo Pile (100) is described for the anchoring of floating structures used for drilling and production wells for oil and gas, the pile (100) comprising a tapering body (1) provided with fins (20) and a point (30) for embedding in the seabed, its upper end being provided with at least two plates (2) provided with flaps (3), said flaps being capable of inducing a rotation of the articulation elements (4) when a dragging force is exerted on the system. With the continuation of the dragging force, the plates (2) continue to rotate as far as a final configuration, when the points of contact (6) of stops (5) are reached. The pile (100) comprises one embodiment for permanent anchorage and another for temporary anchorage. The method of installation/withdrawal of the two embodiments is also described.

Abstract: An improved cyclone system for disengaging solid and gaseous particles in fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processes with reduced coke formation in disengager vessels, without favoring release of the disengaged catalyst into cyclones in subsequent stages, said system comprising legless cyclones 42 fitted with external collector pipes 43, is described. The collector pipes 43 optimize the purge of gases coming from the disengager vessel 49, reducing the time the hydrocarbons remain inside the disengager vessel 49, thus preventing overcracking and subsequent coke formation. Positioning of the external collector pipes 43 prevents release of the disengaged catalyst into cyclones in subsequent stages.

Abstract: A method is described for co-processing of ethanol and hydrocarbons from petroleum refining, which are introduced separately in two reaction zones of a reactor of a fluidized catalytic cracking unit. The process combines conversion of ethanol into ethene and conversion of hydrocarbons into other lighter hydrocarbon fractions, to produce ethene in quantities of 15 to 90 wt % in the fuel gas fraction obtained during the process.

Abstract: Fiber optic position transducer that includes a magnetic or electromagnetic element, one or more segments of magnetostrictive material, Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors, a rod of material that is impenetrable to magnetic fields, optical fiber. One or more of the sensors is fixed upon a segment of magnetostrictive material, which is fixed to a rod, and may only be displaced longitudinally. The Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors have different wave lengths and are made of the same optical fiber. The magnetic or electromagnetic element included may be made of NdFeB (Neodymium Iron Boron) or metal alloys of TbDyFe (Terbium, Dysprosium and Iron), such as TX, Terphenol-D and others. It is applied to a control flow valve in an oil well, and it also refers to the calibration process of the position of the transducer.

Abstract: A method is described for controlling instability of operation in a de-ethanizer tower (13) in the gas recovery unit in fluid catalytic cracking units and delayed coking units. The method comprises the step of intervening in the de-ethanizer tower (13) when instability occurs in it, and adjusting the material balance of water in such a way that the excess of water in the feed load stream (9) is removed only as an azeotrope. The intervention is performed by introducing into the feed load stream (9) of the de-ethanizer tower (13) a volume fraction (18) of a flow of hydrocarbon, which may be either dry hydrocarbons or hydrocarbons with a low level of water content.

Abstract: This invention relates to a platform of the FPSO type in the form of a mono-column, of circular or polygonal horizontal section or of a combination of circular and polygonal sections, comprising one or more central load tanks (12), which can be single or compartmented, surrounded, in an alternately and uniformly distributed manner, by permanent-ballast tanks (13) and by ballast tanks open to the sea (“moonpools”) (14).

Abstract: The present invention refers to the process of determination of light elements, i.e., molar mass lower than 23, within inorganic materials, by means of spectra analysis between 5 keV and 22 keV, obtained from these materials when exposed to X radiation. Particularly, the invention refers to the direct determination of carbon content in steel and alloys. According to the invention process, the inorganic materials are exposed to X radiation and the spectra are organized as a matrix and mathematically processed using chemometric tools properly selected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of sodium titanate nanotubes and their derivatives obtained by ion exchange and/or thermal treatment, by reacting titanium oxides with sodium hydroxide under suitable hydrothermal conditions to obtain or control the morphology of nanostructural titanates. The method is carried out continuously in one or more reactors connected in series, where the reaction mixture is introduced continuously into the reactor at a feed rate that is the same as the rate of discharge of the product. When more than one reactor is used, the material leaving the first reactor is used to feed the next reactor, and preferably a temperature differential is applied between the reactors in such a way as to obtain a mean temperature of between 60 and 180° C., and the overall reaction time is short, being about 90 minutes or less.

Abstract: The reaction of N-alkylimidazol with alkyl sulfonates, at room temperature, favors the production of 1,3-dialkylimidazolium alkane-sulfonates as crystalline solids at high yields. The alkane-sulfonate anions may be easily substituted by a series of other anions [BF4, PF6, PF3(CF2CF3)3, CF3SO3 and (CF3SO2)2N] through simple anion, salt, or acid reactions in water at room temperature. The extraction with dichloromethane, filtration, and evaporation of the solvent, allows the production of the desired ionic liquids at a yield of 80-95%. The purity of these ionic liquids (in some cases >99.4%) is performed using the intensity of 13C satellite signals from the magnetic resonance spectrums of the N-methyl imidazolium group as an internal standard.

Abstract: A co-processing combining a first selective catalytic bed consisting of only one metal element selected from group VIB metals and of at least one conventional hydrotreating bimetallic catalytic bed. The co-processing provides control of the hydroconversion reactions of the triglycerides and/or fatty acids of biomass oil diluted in a refinery stream of petroleum hydrocarbons and minimizes the generation of gaseous products that are undesirable to the process, while maintaining the levels of unsaturated hydrocarbons hydrogenation and of heteroatomic contaminants removal from the refinery stream of petroleum hydrocarbons. The co-processing selectively providing n-paraffins of even number of carbon atoms, generated from the biomass oil, which are incorporated in a hydrotreated liquid product in petroleum refining HDT units.

Abstract: Compositions of controlled-breakage cationic asphalt microsurfacing emulsions especially formulated to provide extra-rapid setting on being deposited on paving in coating operations which may be realised during the day, or during the night, under particularly severe ambient conditions for this type of operation, that is to say at temperatures below 15° C. with relative air humidity exceeding 50%, but limited to 65%. Said compositions provide extra-rapid setting because they yield wet cohesion results exceeding 25 kgf-cm in one hour when tested by method ISSA TB-139 under the said ambient conditions of temperature and humidity.

Abstract: A process is described for the extractive oxidation of contaminants present in raw fuel streams rich in heteroatomic polar compounds and catalyzed by iron oxides contained in natural limonitic goethite, said process comprising contacting said streams with an oxidation pair which is a peroxide in solution/organic acid in amount of at least 3 and an amount between 0.01 and 10 wt % of an iron oxide, both based on the feed, the iron oxide being made up of a reduced natural limonitic goethite. The goethite reduction by a hydrogen stream has the advantage of lowering the migration of non-contaminating polar hydrocarbons from the fuel stream to the aqueous phase, at the same time obtaining higher mass yield of final product fuel while the level of target contaminants to be removed is maintained relative to the state-of-the-art process. Process yields attain 98% weight/weight.

Abstract: A stripping apparatus is described for the gas-solid separation process in a fluidized bed in a counter-current flow of a stripping fluid. The apparatus includes sets of perforated baffle-plates with holes, fixed in series, alternating central and lateral plates inside a stripping chamber. The holes in the baffle-plates, in number, size and in circular or elliptical lay-out, are oriented in offset position in relation to the holes in the parallel and subsequent baffle-plates, reducing the damage of erosion on the perforated baffle-plates and optimizing stripping of the fluidized solid particles.

Abstract: A modular system used to visually inspect the interior of storage tanks and to simultaneously collect samples to analyze the products stored. The modular internal inspection system includes an assembly made up by a pneumatic controller (2), a pneumatic module (3), an interface module (4), a control module (5), an operation module (6), and several connection cables (7a, 7b, 7c). The system may be remotely operated and allows recording the images and the data collected during inspection. The modular internal tank inspection system is used in storage tanks (1) of any geometric configuration, normally found in industrial installations. Furthermore, because it is an intrinsically secure system, it may be used on tanks that store different types of liquid fuels, with no risk of explosion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a restrictive seal of the labyrinth type of reduced external size. The invention has an inner deflector which is capable of retaining the lubricating oil within the bearing housing with great efficiency, and a highly accurate system for adjusting and aligning the elements of the labyrinths, ensuring an infinite service life. Because it has very much smaller external dimensions it can be applied as a replacement to the lip seals commonly in use without causing problems to accessory equipment connected to a pump.