Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a catalyst or catalyst precursor comprising a catalytically active material and a carrier material. The invention relates to a catalyst particle and catalyst precursor thereof obtainable by said method. The catalyst may be used in a process for synthesising hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an olefinic product, the comprising: (a) reacting an oxygenate to produce an effluent stream, comprising at least oxygenate, olefin, water and acidic by-products; (b) cooling the effluent stream by means of an indirect heat exchange to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of effluent stream; (c) further rapidly cooling the effluent stream to a temperature at or lower than the dew point temperature of the reaction effluent stream by direct injection of a first aqueous liquid into the effluent stream, to form a quench effluent stream; (d) separating the first quench effluent stream into a liquid quench stream and a gaseous quench stream; and passing the gaseous quench stream into a quench tower and contacting the gaseous quench stream with a second aqueous liquid, to produce a quench tower gaseous stream comprising the olefinic product.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition comprising a mixture of tridecanols wherein at least about 60 wt % of the mixture is linear tridecanol and at least about 10 wt % of the mixture is branched tridecanols wherein the branched tridecanols have branching on the second carbon atom. The mixture of tridecanols may be converted to one or more derivatives, and these derivatives may be used in laundry detergents, cleaning products or as an agricultural adjuvant, an emulsifying agent, a lubricant additive, a pour point depressant, or a personal care ingredient.

Abstract: The invention removes oxygenate from an olefin rich gas stream, the process comprising: (a) reacting an oxygenate, in a reaction zone in the presence of a molecular sieve catalyst, at a temperature from 350 to 1000° C., to produce an effluent stream, comprising at least oxygenate, olefin, water and acidic by-products; (b) cooling the effluent stream and contacting it with a first aqueous stream in a quench zone to produce an aqueous stream and an olefin rich gas stream; (c) compressing the olefin rich gas stream in one or more compressors in series to produce a compressed gas stream, (d) cooling the compressed gas stream and separating condensed material from said gas stream after each of the one or more compressors.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an olefinic product, comprising: (a) reacting an oxygenate feedstock, in a reaction zone in the presence of a molecular sieve catalyst, at a temperature from 350 to 1000° C., to produce a reaction effluent stream, comprising at least oxygenate, olefin, water and acidic by-products; (b) cooling the reaction effluent stream by means of an indirect heat exchange to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of reaction effluent stream; (c) further rapidly cooling the reaction effluent stream to a temperature lower than the dew point temperature of the reaction effluent stream by direct injection of an aqueous liquid into the reaction effluent stream, to form a first quench effluent stream; and (d) separating the first quench effluent stream into a first liquid quench effluent stream and a first gaseous quench effluent stream, comprising the olefinic product.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing an olefin, comprising: (a) reacting an oxygenate, in a reaction zone in the presence of a molecular sieve catalyst, at a temperature from 350 to 1000° C., to produce a effluent stream, comprising at least oxygenate, olefin, water and acidic by-products; (b) cooling the reaction effluent stream by an indirect heat exchange to a temperature greater than the dew point temperature of effluent stream; (c) further rapidly cooling the effluent stream to a temperature lower than the dew point temperature of the effluent stream by direct injection of an aqueous liquid into the effluent stream, to form a quench effluent stream; and (d) passing the quench effluent stream into a quench tower and contacting the quench effluent stream with a second aqueous liquid in the presence of at least one set of internals, to produce a quench tower gaseous stream comprising the olefin.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition comprising a mixture of pentadecanols wherein at least about 60 wt % of the mixture is linear pentadecanol and at least about 10 wt % of the mixture is branched pentadecanols wherein the branched pentadecanols have branching on the second carbon atom. The mixture of pentadecanols may be converted to one or more derivatives, and these derivatives may be used in laundry detergents, cleaning products or as an agricultural adjuvant, an emulsifying agent, a lubricant additive, a pour point depressant, or a personal care ingredient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for drilling and casing a wellbore using a drilling rig having a predetermined load capacity, using a casing scheme comprising two or more casing strings, and at least one combined casing string, which includes a first one of the casing strings fitting within a second casing string. The weight of the at least one combined casing string may exceed the load capacity of the drilling rig, and the weight of each of the parts of the at least one combined casing string is less than the load capacity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for start-up and operation of a Fischer-Tropsch reactor comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reactor with a fixed bed of reduced Fischer-Tropsch catalyst that comprises cobalt as catalytically active metal; (b) supplying a gaseous feed stream comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen to the reactor, wherein the gaseous feed stream initially comprises a nitrogen-containing compound other than molecular nitrogen in an initial concentration in the range of from 0.1 to 50 ppmv based on the volume of the gaseous feed stream; (c) converting carbon monoxide and hydrogen supplied with the gaseous feed stream to the reactor into hydrocarbons at an initial reaction temperature, wherein the initial reaction temperature is set at a value of at least 200° C.

Abstract: A method of extending the catalyst life of a hydrogenolysis catalyst activity in the presence of biomass and aqueous solution is described. Lignocellulosic biomass solids and aqueous solution is provided to in a hydrothermal digestion unit in the presence of a digestive solvent, and a supported hydrogenolysis catalyst containing (a) sulfur, (b) Mo or W, and (c) Co, Ni or mixture thereof, incorporated into a solid metal oxide support. The lignocellulosic biomass solids in the hydrothermal digestion unit is heated to a temperature in the range of 180° C. to less than 300° C. in the presence of digestive solvent, hydrogen, and in the range of 0.15 wt. % to 12.5 wt. %, based on catalyst, of H2S or H2S source at least partially soluble in aqueous solution, and the supported hydrogenolysis catalyst forming a product solution containing plurality of oxygenated hydrocarbons, the hydrothermal digestion unit maintaining protective sulfur concentration.

Abstract: A method of automatically placing a drill bit used to form an opening in a subsurface formation on a bottom of the opening being formed comprises a) increasing a flow rate in a drill string to a target flow; b) controlling a flow rate of fluid into the drill string to be substantially the same as a flowrate of fluid out of the opening; c) allowing a fluid pressure to reach a relatively steady state; and d) automatically moving the drill bit toward the bottom of the opening at a selected rate of advance until an increase in measured differential pressure indicates that the drill bit is at the bottom of the opening.

Abstract: A process for preparing an elemental sulphur-containing composition for use as a fertilizer and/or soil improver comprises wet milling elemental sulphur in a liquid to produce a micronized sulphur slurry for application to soil, and further comprises adding a preventive scavenging additive for fixating sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide gases that are released downstream of the mill.

Abstract: The present invention provides an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having improved gas separation performance properties and a process for preparing an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having improved gas separation performance properties. The process comprises treating a polymeric precursor fiber with a solution containing a modifying agent prior to pyrolysis. The concentration of the modifying agent in the solution may be selected in order to obtain an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having a desired combination of gas permeance and selectivity properties. The treated precursor fiber is then pyrolyzed to form an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having improved gas permeance.

Abstract: A method of producing sulphuric acid from a sour tail gas comprises (a) obtaining a sour tail gas stream comprising H2S or reduced sulphur species or a combination thereof from an oil and gas facility; (b) subjecting the sour tail gas stream to oxidation and obtaining an oxidized gas stream comprising SO2; and, (c) utilizing the oxidized gas stream to obtain sulphuric acid and a SO2 reduced tail gas stream. The method may further comprise subjecting the oxidized gas stream to a regenerable absorption process. The sulphuric acid may be used to produce fertilizer.

Abstract: Use of a liquid fuel composition comprising (a) a gasoline base fuel and (b) from 0.5 to 50% v/v of naphtha as a fuel for a spark ignition internal combustion engine, wherein the spark ignition internal combustion engine is comprised within the powertrain of a hybrid electric vehicle.

Abstract: Processing of a reaction product mixture containing at least one volatile organic compound as well as lignin, lignin derived compounds, and/or unextracted cellulose and hemicellulose using a recovery system comprising at least two flashers or at least one flasher and at least two reboilers. In a particular embodiment, the reaction product mixture comes from reactions involving deconstruction (or digestion) of biomass, particularly cellulosic biomass which contains various polysaccharides (e.g., carbohydrates) and lignin.

Abstract: A blowout preventer comprising: a body comprising a bore therethrough; a cavity disposed through the body and intersecting the bore; first and second closure members moveably disposed within the cavity on opposite sides of the bore; a first rod having a length and comprising a first end coupled to the first closure member; a second rod having a length and comprising a first end coupled to the second closure member; a first glider assembly wherein a second end of the first rod is at least partially disposed within the first glider assembly; and a second glider assembly wherein a second end of the second rod is at least partially disposed within the second glider assembly.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of applying a coating in a liquid state to wellbore tubing, such as threaded connector parts or casing sections, before running the tubing downhole. The coating only cures while running downhole. The coating is an elastic curable coating composition, comprising a curable elastic thermosetting resin, a curing agent and a water-absorbing expansion agent. During make-up of a connector, the liquid coating composition acts as lubricant. When cured, the coating will swell when contacted with a wellbore fluid to ensure leak-tightness.

Abstract: Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be complicated by release of lignin therefrom. Methods and systems for processing a reaction product containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, can comprise hydrotreating the reaction product to convert the lignin-derived products to desired higher molecular weight compounds. The methods can further include separating the higher molecular weight compounds from unconverted products, such as unconverted phenolics, and recycling the unconverted phenolics for use as at least a portion of the digestion solvent and for further conversion to desired higher molecular weight compounds with additional hydrotreatment. The methods and systems can further include generating hydrogen with the further hydrotreatment.

Abstract: Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be complicated by release of lignin therefrom. Methods and systems for processing a reaction product containing lignin-derived products, such as phenolics, can comprise hydrotreating the reaction product to convert the lignin-derived products to desired higher molecular weight compounds. The methods and systems can further include separating the higher molecular weight compounds from unconverted products, such as unconverted phenolics, and recycling the unconverted phenolics for use as at least a portion of the digestion solvent and for further conversion to desired higher molecular weight compounds with additional hydrotreatment. The methods and systems can further include a further hydrotreatment step configured for additional lignin conversion and/or a further hydrotreatment step configured for generating hydrogen.