Abstract: An elongated-shaped particle having two protrusions; each extending from and attached to a central position, wherein the central position is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the particle, the cross-section of the particle occupying the space encompassed by the outer edges of six circles around a central circle, in which each of the six circles touches two neighboring circles and two alternating circles are equidistant to the central circle and may be attached to the central circle, and the two circles adjacent to the two alternating circles (but not the common circle) touching the central circle, minus the space occupied by the four remaining outer circles and including four remaining interstitial regions.

Abstract: A rejuvenating agent having a viscosity of from 200 to 60000 cSt at 60° C. and comprising 10-90 weight % palm oil and 90-10 weight % bitumen, where the percentages are based upon the total weight of the composition, is disclosed. The rejuvenating agent is suitable for use in hot in-place and hot in-plant recycling processes.

Abstract: A method of treating off-gas from a Fischer-Tropsch reaction comprises recovering the off-gas and hydrogenating a portion of the olefins present in the off-gas and converting a portion of the carbon monoxide present in the off-gas to carbon dioxide or methane. The treated off-gas is then fed to a hydrogen manufacturing unit such as a steam reformer to form hydrogen that can be used elsewhere in the process.

Abstract: A method for controlling water condensation in the pores of a near wellbore region of a permeable formation through which wet natural gas flows into an inflow section of an oil and/or gas production well, the method comprising controlling fluid transfer through the near wellbore region such that development of a water bank resulting from condensation of water in said region is inhibited or promoted. If the well is a gas production well then development of a water bank may be inhibited by controlling pressure drawdown, cyclic well shut in, fracturing and/or injection of heat generating and/or water transporting chemicals.

Abstract: A method of preparing, preferably recycling, a catalyst support material is disclosed and is particularly applicable to recycling a titania support. The invention includes crushing the used catalyst support that is obtained by leaching catalytic components from a used supported catalyst and preferably combining it with new catalyst support in order to provide the required average particle size and ratio of crystal phases. The invention has a number of benefits including making use of used catalyst support materials which have been conventionally disposed of and also providing a method to more efficiently recycle the active component. Where the support is recycled for a similar application, less promoter may be required.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a catalyst or catalyst precursor comprising: (a) admixing a carrier material, a homogeneous crystalline solid solution of a cobalt compound and one or more d-metal compounds and/or one or more co-catalysts or precursors thereof, and optionally a liquid; (b) forming the mixture of step (a); and (c) optionally drying and/or calcining the product of step (b).

Abstract: Contact of a crude feed with one or more catalysts produces a total product that includes a crude product. The crude feed has a total content of alkali metal, and alkaline-earth metal in metal salts of organic acids of at least 0.00001 grams per gram of crude feed. At least one of the catalysts has a pore size distribution of at least 230 ?. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa. The crude product has a total content of alkali metal, and alkaline-earth metal in metal salts of organic acids of at most 90% of the total content of alkali metal, and alkaline-earth metal in metal salts of organic acids of the crude feed. One or more other properties of the crude product may be changed by at least 10% relative to the respective properties of the crude feed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for disposal of di-sulphide compounds having the general formula of R—S—S—R, wherein R is an alkyl group, the method comprising the steps of: (a) combusting said di-sulphide compounds in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas in a sulphur dioxide generation zone, whereby at least part of the di-sulphide compounds is converted to sulphur dioxide to obtain a gas stream comprising sulphur dioxide; (b) reacting the gas stream comprising sulphur dioxide with hydrogen sulphide to obtain elemental sulphur.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (I); P(R4)—P(R1)(R2)?N(R3)??(I) wherein: the R1 group and R2 group are independently selected from a hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl group; the R3 is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R4 group is an optionally substituted alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure or an optionally substituted arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a stable pipelineable blend from a heavy residue of a catalytic hydroconversion process operating at high (60-80%) conversion rate by blending the heavy residue with a virgin bitumen, such as a bitumen produced from the Peace River or Cold Lake oil sand deposits in Alberta, Canada, and/or with a Wabasca virgin heavy crude oil wherein the 524° C.+ Fraction of the blend is controlled such that: 1) The blend comprises less than 40 vol % of heavy 524° C.+ components, i.e. components which boil at atmospheric pressure at a temperature above about 524 Degrees Celsius; and 2) The 524° C.+ fraction in the blend comprises less than about 80 vol % of heavy residue originating from the hydroconversion process.

Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. The mixture may be separated into condensable hydrocarbons and non-condensable hydrocarbons. The condensable hydrocarbons removed from the formation may be a high quality oil that has a relatively low olefin content and a relatively high API gravity.

Abstract: A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing a drive fluid to a hydrocarbon containing layer of the tar sands formation to mobilize at least some hydrocarbons in the layer. At least some first hydrocarbons from the layer are produced. Heat is provided to the layer from one or more heaters located in the formation. At least some second hydrocarbons are produced from the layer of the formation. The second hydrocarbons include at least some hydrocarbons that are upgraded compared to the first hydrocarbons produced by using the drive fluid.

Abstract: There is disclosed an umbilical assembly comprising at least one elongated umbilical element, and at least one light weight, high strength reinforcing rod.

Abstract: Lubricating oil composition having a sulphur content of from 0.01 to 0.3 wt. %, a phosphorus content of from 0.01 to 0.1 wt. % and a sulphated ash content of from 0.1 to 1.2 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition is provided. The lubricating oil composition contains a mineral and/or synthetic base oil and one or more compounds of formula I, wherein R is an optionally substituted branched or straight chain alkyl group containing from 3 to 50 carbon atoms; R1 is hydrogen or an optionally substituted branched or straight chain alkyl group containing from 1 to 50 carbon atoms; n is an integer equal to or greater than 1, and m is also an integer equal to or greater than 1; and X is an integer from 2 to 10,000. A method of improving engine cleanliness in diesel, gas-fuelled or gasoline engine applications using such composition is also provided.

Abstract: A multi-stage process for the production of hydrocarbon products from syngas, each stage of the process comprising one or more syngas conversion reactors in which syngas is partially converted into hydrocarbon products at conversion conditions, each conversion reactor having a syngas entry stream system which system combines two or more entry streams of syngas and which system delivers the combined syngas to the syngas conversion reactor, the syngas entry system combining at least one entry stream of syngas being a syngas stream obtained in a partial oxidation process (for the first stage) or an exit stream of syngas from the previous stage, together with a reformed syngas (for all stages except the first stage), with another syngas stream being a recycle stream from the conversion reactor and a syngas exit stream system which discharges an exit stream of syngas from the reactor, the exit stream partly being used as the recycle stream to the syngas entry system as mentioned above, and, in the case that there

Abstract: Systems, methods, and heaters for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. At least one system for electrically insulating an overburden portion of a heater wellbore is described. The system may include a heater wellbore located in a subsurface formation and an electrically insulating casing located in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore. The casing may include at least one non-ferromagnetic material such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the casing.

Abstract: The invention provides a process to prepare a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis product from a gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons comprising methane, ethane and optional higher carbon number hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: (a) pre-reforming the hydrocarbon mixture adiabatically, (b) heating the gaseous mixture obtained in step (a) to a temperature greater than 650° C., (c) performing a non-catalyzed partial oxidation by contacting the heated mixture of step (b) yielding a reactor effluent having a temperature of between 1100 and 1500° C.

Abstract: A method for providing a velocity profile for a subsurface region that includes the reflective interfaces, the method comprising the steps of: providing a set of data comprising signals transmitted by a transmitter and collected at a receiver, wherein the data include a primary signal that has been reflected off of one of the reflective interfaces and a multiply-reflected signal that has been reflected off of at least two of the reflective interfaces, providing a velocity model for the subsurface region, using the velocity model and the primary signal to construct a first image of the subsurface region, using the velocity model and the multiply-reflected signal to construct a second image of the subsurface region, determining a measure of match between the first and second images, adjusting the velocity model based on this measure, and repeating the steps until the measure of match attains a desired level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst. The process allows the delamination of layered crystals which are used as a starting material for a catalyst. The starting material is subsequently converted into an active portion of a catalyst with an increased dispersion resulting in a higher activity. Preferred delaminating agents are di-carboxylic acids and one particular example is citric acid. Preferably at least 0.75 wt %, more preferably at least 1.5 wt % of a delaminating agent is added to the catalyst starting material.

Abstract: A method of hydroprocessing a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock using a hydroprocessing catalyst having specific properties making it effective in the hydroconversion of at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock to lighter hydrocarbons. The hydroprocessing catalyst comprises a Group VIB metal component (e.g., Cr, Mo, and W), a Group VIII metal component (e.g., Ni and Co) and, optionally, a potassium metal component that are supported on a support material comprising alumina. The alumina has novel physical properties that, in combination with the catalytic components, provide for the hydroprocessing catalyst. The hydroprocessing catalyst is particularly effective in the conversion of the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock. The alumina is characterized as having a high pore volume and a high surface area with a large proportion of the pore volume being present in the pores within a narrow pore diameter distribution about a narrowly defined range of median pore diameters.