Abstract: The present invention relates to catalysts, more particularly to a cobalt-containing catalyst composition. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing a cobalt-containing catalyst precursor, a process for preparing a cobalt-containing catalyst, and a hydrocarbon synthesis process wherein such a catalyst is used. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cobalt-containing catalyst composition comprising cobalt and/or a cobalt compound supported on and/or in a catalyst support; the catalyst composition also including a titanium compound on and/or in the catalyst support, and a manganese compound on and/or in the catalyst support.

Abstract: A process to produce olefinic products suitable for use as or conversion to oilfield hydrocarbons includes separating an olefins-containing Fischer-Tropsch condensate into a light fraction, an intermediate fraction and a heavy fraction, oligomerising at least a portion of the light fraction to produce a first olefinic product which includes branched internal olefins, and carrying out either one or both of the steps of (i) dehydrogenating at least a portion of the intermediate fraction to produce an intermediate product which includes internal olefins and alpha-olefins, and synthesising higher olefins from the intermediate product which includes internal olefins and alpha-olefins to produce a second olefinic product, and (ii) dimerising at least a portion of the intermediate fraction to produce a second olefinic product. At least a portion of the heavy fraction is dehydrogenated to produce a third olefinic product which includes internal olefins.

Abstract: A method of operating a slurry phase apparatus includes feeding one or more gaseous reactants into a slurry body of solid particulate material suspended in a suspension liquid contained inside a vessel. The one or more gaseous reactants are fed into the slurry body through a gas distributor having downward facing gas outlets and are fed towards a fluid impermeable partition spanning across the vessel below the gas distributor. The partition divides the vessel into a slurry volume above the partition and a bottom volume below the partition. A differential pressure is maintained over the partition between predefined limits by manipulating or allowing changes in the pressure in the bottom volume by employing a pressure transfer passage establishing flow or pressure communication between the bottom volume and a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: A method of operating a combined heat and power plant includes, when there is insufficient heat removal from a hot flue gas downstream from a hot flue gas generator but upstream of a steam evaporator, as a result of insufficient mass flow of imported steam to a steam superheater, to prevent the hot flue gas temperature downstream of the steam superheater from rising to or above a predetermined limit, quenching steam inside the steam superheater or quenching steam being fed to the steam superheater by injecting boiler feed water or condensate into the steam to produce steam in the steam superheater. The quenching increases the removal of heat from the hot flue gas and reduces the hot flue gas temperature downstream of the steam superheater to ensure that the hot flue gas temperature downstream of the steam superheater does not rise to or above the predetermined limit.

Abstract: A process to produce olefinic products suitable for use as or conversion to oilfield hydrocarbons includes separating an olefins-containing Fischer-Tropsch condensate into a light fraction, an intermediate fraction and a heavy fraction, oligomerising at least a portion of the light fraction to produce a first olefinic product which includes branched internal olefins, and carrying out either one or both of the steps of (i) dehydrogenating at least a portion of the intermediate fraction to produce an intermediate product which includes internal olefins and alpha-olefins, and synthesising higher olefins from the intermediate product which includes internal olefins and alpha-olefins to produce a second olefinic product, and (ii) dimerising at least a portion of the intermediate fraction to produce a second olefinic product. At least a portion of the heavy fraction is dehydrogenated to produce a third olefinic product which includes internal olefins.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of a fully synthetic heavy fuel oil, said process including at least fractionation of hydrocarbons obtained from the hydroconversion of C5 and heavier Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process products to obtain a product that is heavier than a middle distillate and has an ASTM D86 cut-off temperature in excess of 350° C. Further, the invention provides a fuel made in accordance with the process.

Abstract: A method of operating a combined heat and power plant (10) (CHP plant) includes generating hot flue gas and cooling the hot flue gas in a sequence of cooling steps to recover heat and to generate steam in a heat recovery steam generator (16) (HRSG). The HRSG (16) includes an LP steam evaporator (36) designed to generate steam at least over a pressure range of from 2 bar(g) to 18 bar(g) so that either LP steam or MP steam can selectively be generated by the LP steam generator (36), thereby to cool the hot flue gas, and an MP steam superheater (24) upstream of the LP steam evaporator (36) to superheat MP steam in heat exchange with the hot flue gas thereby to cool the hot flue gas.

Abstract: A process (20) to produce olefinic products suitable for use as or conversion to oilfield hydrocarbons includes separating (42) an olefins-containing Fischer-Tropsch condensate (64) into a light fraction (68), an intermediate fraction (82) and a heavy fraction (94), oligomerizing (44) at least a portion of the light fraction (68) to produce a first olefinic product (72) which includes branched internal olefins, and carrying out either one or both of the steps of (i) dehydrogenating (50) at least a portion of the intermediate fraction (82) to produce an intermediate product (84) which includes internal olefins and alpha-olefins, and synthesizing (52) higher olefins from the intermediate product which includes internal olefins and alpha-olefins to produce a second olefinic product (86), and (ii) dimerizing (52) at least a portion of the intermediate fraction to produce a second olefinic product (86).

Abstract: The invention provides a Fischer-Tropsch jet fuel refining process which has a jet fuel yield in excess of 60% by mass, said process including at least four of the following Five conversion processes: a. hydrocracking one or more of a FT kerosene and heavier material fraction and a C9 and heavier FT Syncrude fraction; b. oligomerising an FT syncrude fraction including hydrocarbons in the range C2 to C8; c. hydrotreating one or more of an FT syncrude fraction, a product from process b., and an alkylated FT syncrude fraction; d. aromatizing one or more of an FT syncrude fraction including hydrocarbons in the range C2 to C8, a product from process a., a product from process b, a product from process c., and a product from an aromatic alkylation process; and e. alkylating one or more of an FT syncrude fraction including hydrocarbons in the C2 to C6 range, a product from process b., and a product from process d.

Abstract: A method of operating a slurry phase apparatus includes feeding one or more gaseous reactants into a slurry body of solid particulate material suspended in a suspension liquid contained inside a vessel. The one or more gaseous reactants are fed into the slurry body through a gas distributor having downward facing gas outlets and are fed towards a fluid impermeable partition spanning across the vessel below the gas distributor. The partition divides the vessel into a slurry volume above the partition and a bottom volume below the partition. A differential pressure is maintained over the partition between predefined limits by manipulating or allowing changes in the pressure in the bottom volume by employing a pressure transfer passage establishing flow or pressure communication between the bottom volume and a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of reducing the propensity of a diesel fuel composition to take up zinc when exposed to zinc during storage and/or transportation, the method comprising formulating a diesel fuel composition to be stored or transported in contact with zinc such that said diesel fuel composition has an aniline point greater than 80° C.

Abstract: A method of operating a slurry phase apparatus includes feeding one or more gaseous reactants into a slurry body of solid particulate material suspended in a suspension liquid contained inside a vessel. The one or more gaseous reactants are fed into the slurry body through a gas distributor having downward facing gas outlets and are fed towards a fluid impermeable partition spanning across the vessel below the gas distributor. The partition divides the vessel into a slurry volume above the partition and a bottom volume below the partition. A differential pressure is maintained over the partition between predefined limits by manipulating or allowing changes in the pressure in the bottom volume by employing a pressure transfer passage establishing flow or pressure communication between the bottom volume and a head space above the slurry body.

Abstract: A method of treating or refining a wax includes hydrogenating a feed wax which has an MEK-solubility oils content of more 0.5 weight % to provide a hydrogenated wax. Thereafter the hydrogenated wax is de-oiled to reduce the MEK-solubility oils content of the hydrogenated wax, producing a refined wax or a wax product.

Abstract: A Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process (10) includes feeding gaseous reactants (20) including at least CO, H2 and CO2into a reactor (14) holding an iron-based catalyst. The H2 and CO are fed in a H2:CO molar ratio of at least 2:1 and the CO2 and CO are fed in a CO2:CO molar ratio of at least 0.5:1. The reactor (14) is controlled at an operating temperature in the range from about 260° C. to about 300° C. A liquid product (22) and a gaseous product (24) including hydrocarbons, CO, H2, water and CO2 are withdrawn from the reactor (14).

Abstract: A process (20) to produce olefinic products suitable for use as or conversion to oilfield hydrocarbons includes separating (42) an olefins-containing Fischer-Tropsch condensate (64) into a light fraction (68), an intermediate fraction (82) and a heavy fraction (94), oligomerising (44) at least a portion of the light fraction (68) to produce a first olefinic product (72) which includes branched internal olefins, and carrying out either one or both of the steps of (i) dehydrogenating (50) at least a portion of the intermediate fraction (82) to produce an intermediate product (84) which includes internal olefins and alpha-olefins, and synthesising (52) higher olefins from the intermediate product which includes internal olefins and alpha-olefins to produce a second olefinic product (86), and (ii) dimerising (52) at least a portion of the intermediate fraction to produce a second olefinic product (86).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the preparation of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst material, in the form of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst precursor and/or catalyst, preferably, a Fischer Tropsch synthesis catalyst precursor and/or catalyst. The invention also extends to the use of a catalyst precursor and/or catalyst prepared by the method according to the invention in a hydrocarbon synthesis process, preferably, a Fischer Tropsch synthesis process. According to this invention, a method for the preparation of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst material includes the steps of treating Fe(II) carboxylate in solution with an oxidizing agent to convert it to Fe(III) carboxylate in solution under conditions which ensure that such oxidation does not take place simultaneously with any dissolution of Fe(0); and hydrolyzing the Fe(III) carboxylate solution resulting from step (iii) and precipitating one or more Fe(III) hydrolysis products.

Abstract: A process for the tetramerization of ethylene includes contacting ethylene with a catalyst under ethylene oligomerization conditions. The catalyst comprises a source of chromium, a ligating compound, and an activator. The ligating compound includes a phosphine that forms part of a cyclic structure.

Abstract: A process for the oligomerization, preferably the tetramerization, of ethylene to predominantly 1-hexene or 1-octene or mixtures of 1-hexene and 1-octene includes contacting ethylene with a catalyst under ethylene oligomerization conditions. The catalyst comprises a source of chromium, a diphosphine ligating compound, and optionally an activator. The diphosphine ligating compound includes at least one substituted aromatic ring bonded to a phosphorous atom. The substituted aromatic ring is substituted at a ring atom adjacent to the ring atom bonded to the respective phosphorous atom with a group Y, where Y is of the form —AREWG, A being O, S or NR5, where R5 is a hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl or organoheteryl group, and REWG is an electron withdrawing group.

Abstract: A process for the oligomerization of ethylene to predominantly 1-hexene or 1-octene or mixtures of 1-hexene and 1-octene includes contacting ethylene with a catalyst under ethylene oligomerization conditions. The catalyst comprises a source of chromium, a diphosphine ligating compound, and optionally an activator. The diphosphine ligating compound includes at least one optionally substituted fused cyclic structure including at least two rings, the optionally substituted fused cyclic structure including a 5- to 7-membered aromatic first ring bonded to a phosphorus atom, the aromatic first ring being fused to a 4- to 8-membered heterocyclic second ring, the heterocyclic second ring including a heteroatom which is separated by two ring atoms along the shortest connecting path from the phosphorous atom that is bonded to the first aromatic ring.

Abstract: The invention provides the use of a highly paraffinic distillate fuel in a diesel fuel composition for reducing the formation of injector nozzle deposits when combusted in a diesel engine having a high pressure fuel injection system, wherein the distillate fuel has an aromatics content less than 0.1 wt %, a sulfur content less than 10 ppm and a paraffinic content of at least 70 wt %, such that the diesel fuel composition has a relative fouling behavior of 70% or less and a density of more than 0.815 g. cm?3 (at 15° C.).