Abstract: A hydraulic underreamer for enlarging a wellbore includes improved packer, cutting, jet pump, and mill sections. Each of the sections and their associated advantages are described herein in detail. The packer section is designed to minimize wear on its sealing elements, the cutting and jet pump sections are designed to minimize pressure requirements and optimize hydraulic efficiency, and the mill section has a removable center assembly which allows effective well control when pulling the underreamer out of a “live” well filled with a gas, such as methane.

Abstract: An olefin polymerization process wherein monomer, diluent and catalyst are circulated in a continuous loop reactor and product slurry is recovered by means of a continuous product take off. The continuous product allows operating the reaction at significantly higher solids content in the circulating slurry. In a preferred embodiment, the slurry is heated in a flash line heater and passed to a high pressure flash where a majority of the diluent is separated and thereafter condensed by simple heat exchange, without compression, and thereafter recycled. Also an olefin polymerization process operating at higher reactor solids by virtue of more aggressive circulation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new type of supported metallocene catalyst system. In one aspect of the invention, an inorganic oxide support, such as silica, is impregnated with a Group XIII element such as B, Al or GA. The support is then contacted with a liquid catalyst system prepared by combining in a liquid an organo aluminoxane and a metallocene having two cyclopetadienyl-type ligands selected from substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, benzoindenyl, tetrahdroindenyl, benzofluorenyl, octahydrofluorenyl, and fluorenyl ligands to form a supported metallocene catalyst system. In preferred embodiments the process further includes conducting prepolymerization of at least one olefin in the presence of the supported metallocene catalyst system to produce a prepolymerized metallocene catalyst system. The prepolymerized metallocene catalyst system prepared in this manner yields substantially increased activity for the polymerization of olefins.

Abstract: A number of process steps are provided that can be combined to produce bridged cyclopentadienyl-fluorenyl metallocenes. The process steps include production of a cyclopentadiene compound from dicyclopentadiene; production and recovery of a fulvene compound using the cyclopentadiene compound; production of a raw metallocene product using the fulvene compound; and recovery of the pure metallocene from the raw product.

Abstract: A composition and a process for using the composition in a selective hydrogenation of a highly unsaturated hydrocarbon such as, for example, an alkyne or diolefin, to a less unsaturated hydrocarbon such as, for example, an alkene or a monoolefin, are disclosed. The composition comprising palladium, a selectivity enhancer and an inorganic support wherein the palladium and selectivity enhancer are each present in a sufficient amount to effect the selective hydrogenation of a highly unsaturated hydrocarbon. Optionally, the composition can comprise silver. Also optionally, the palladium is present as skin distributed on the surface of the support. The composition can further comprise an alkali metal-containing compound such as, for example, potassium fluoride.

Abstract: A catalyst composition and process for preparing such catalyst composition which can be useful in contacting a hydrocarbon-containing fluid which contains a highly unsaturated hydrocarbon such as 1,3-butadiene, in the presence of hydrogen, with such catalyst composition in a hydrogenation zone under a hydrogenation condition effective to hydrogenate such highly unsaturated hydrocarbon to a less unsaturated hydrocarbon such as n-butene is disclosed. Such process for preparing a catalyst composition includes (1) combining a zeolite, a Group VIB metal, and an inorganic support to form a modified zeolite; (2) calcining such modified zeolite under a calcining condition to produce a calcined, modified zeolite; and (3) contacting such calcined, modified zeolite with a carburizing agent under a carburizing condition to provide such catalyst composition.

Abstract: A composition, a process for producing the composition, and a hydrocarbon conversion process for converting a hydrocarbon stream such as, for example, gasoline, to olefins and C6 to C8 aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylenes are disclosed. The composition comprises a silylated catalyst which comprises a zeolite, a clay or silica, and a promoter. The process for producing the composition comprises the steps: (1) combining a zeolite with a clay or silica and a promoter under a condition sufficient to bind the clay to the zeolite to produce a clay-bound zeolite; (2) heating the clay-bound zeolite to produce a modified zeolite; and (3) silylating the modified zeolite with a silylating agent. The hydrocarbon conversion process comprises contacting a hydrocarbon stream with the catalyst composition under a condition sufficient to effect the conversion of a hydrocarbon to an olefin and a C6 to C8 aromatic hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of ether from a feedstock containing isoolefins and linear olefins. The process is one which has a high conversion of isoolefins thereby permitting the separation of linear olefins without the associated difficulty in separating isomers.

Abstract: A process to produce a monovinylaromatic polymer is provided. Said monovinylaromatic polymer is provided.

Abstract: A process to produce a monovinylaromatic/monoolefin polymer is provided. Said monovinylaromatic/monoolefin polymer is provided.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process in which the rate of coke formation is reduced without a significant sacrifice in light olefin and BTX yield by the use of a silylated, stabilized metal promoted zeolite catalyst. Another embodiment includes a novel silylated spinel/zeolite catalyst. Another embodiment includes a process for producing a zinc or gallium promoted zeolite in which the promoter is stabilized by a high temperature water vapor treatment in the presence of a metal oxide such as alumina and thereafter the stabilized catalyst precursor is calcined and silylated.

Abstract: A method of preparing a catalyst system which comprises mixing a first solid material comprising at least one perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid salt with a second solid material comprising at least one silanol comprising hydroxy groups and silicon to form a gel comprising silica and the at least one perfluororalkylsulfonic acid salt, and contacting the gel with an acidic solution to convert at least a portion of the at least one perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid salt to at least one perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid is disclosed. Alternatively, a method of preparing a catalyst system which comprises mixing at least one perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid salt with silica gel to form a gel comprising silica and at least one perfluororalkylsulfonic acid salt, and contacting the gel with an acidic solution to convert at least a portion of the at least one perfluororalkylsulfonic acid salt to at least one perfluororalkylsulfonic acid is disclosed.

Abstract: In an HF alkylation process where an acid catalyst regeneration column separates HF acid from ASO and water to provide regenerated catalyst for a catalyst circulation stream, and where buildup of ASO in the catalyst circulation stream is encountered, an improved control scheme uses an on-line analyzer/controller to maintain desired concentrations of HF acid, or ASO or water in the catalyst circulation stream. In one embodoment, a continuously flowing catalyst slip stream is piped to the analyzer/controller for simultaneously determining concentration of HF acid, ASO and water, and in a preferred embodiment the ASO concentration is maintained at a desired low level by manipulating temperature of a stripping fluid charged to a lower section of the column. An alternate manipulated variable is temperature of the acid catalyst feed to the regenerator column. Alternate controlled variables are the HF acid, and water concentration in the catalyst circulation stream.

Abstract: A hydraulic underreamer for enlarging a wellbore includes improved packer, cutting, jet pump, and mill sections. Each of the sections and their associated advantages are described herein in detail. The packer section is designed to minimize wear on its sealing elements, the cutting and jet pump sections are designed to minimize pressure requirements and optimize hydraulic efficiency, and the mill section has a removable center assembly which allows effective well control when pulling the underreamer out of a “live” well filled with a gas, such as methane.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for analyzing seismic data to discover a real trends of multi-attributes in a seismic data volume is disclosed. According to the disclosed method and apparatus the full waveforms of multiple traces are compared in a zone that extends above and below an interpreted horizon, and the comparisons are made using a correlation algorithm that considers both shape and absolute amplitude of the waveforms being compared. Based on the multiple comparisons, traces are classified according to waveform shape such that maps of common waveform classes show areas of similar lithology and/or hydrocarbon effects.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for preparing a highly active solid metallocene-containing catalyst system and its use in the polymerization of olefins. The catalyst system is prepared by creating a catalyst system solution by combining an aluminoxane with a metallocene having a substituent which has olefinic unsaturation in a suitable liquid to form a liquid catalyst system, conducting prepolymerization of an olefin in the liquid catalyst system, and separating the resulting solid metallocene-containing catalyst system from the reaction mixture. Also polymerization of olefins using the inventive solid catalyst system is disclosed.

Abstract: A novel high stability catalyst composition comprising a mixture of zeolite and zinc spinel that has been treated with a reducing gas under high temperature conditions, a method of making such high stability catalyst, and the use thereof for converting paraffin hydrocarbons to olefins and aromatics.

Abstract: A process in which a hydrocarbon feedstock containing n-butane is selectively dehydrogenated to a product containing butenes; a catalyst suitable for the selective dehydrogenation of a feedstock containing n-butane to provide a product containing butenes and a method for producing a catalyst suitable for the selective dehydrogenation of a feedstock containing n-butane to provide a product containing butenes are provided.

Abstract: An enlarged computer graphic image of seismic data is displayed on a concave three-dimensional surface having a shape corresponding to the shape of selected data extracted from a three-dimensional seismic volume. Thus providing an enlarged image of a seismic surface where the data is spatially correct in three-dimensions, and which increases the ease with which interpreters can locate geological features such as horizons, faults, and channels.

Abstract: A high clarity film containing three layers wherein the polymer of each outer layer is the same or different polyethylene selected from polyethylenes having a density of at least 0.925 g/cc, and a molecular weight distribution of less than 4, and being further characterized by being substantially free of branches having 6 or more carbon atoms, polyethylenes of the outer layers optionally containing a fluoroelastomer.