Abstract: A capacitive electrical connector apparatus for electrical signal or power coupling in a submerged environment. The connector consists of a first member and a second member disposed adjacent one another which are adapted for mechanical mating. Each member comprises an electrode, the electrodes being located opposite to one another and each provided with a dielectric layer at its surface directed to the surface of the other electrode. The electordes are adapted to be connected electrically to respective installation parts to be capacitively coupled. The first and second members mate mechanically in such a way that a cavity remains between the electrodes. When submerged, the cavity is filled with a conductive fluid such as seawater, or, for example, an aqueous drilling fluid.

Abstract: A process for removing H.sub.2 S from gases is described, the process comprising contacting a H.sub.2 S-containing gas with a solid absorbent comprising an intimate mixture of zinc oxide and a zeolite having a pore size larger than 0.40 nm, at a temperature above 300.degree. C. The absorbent is regenerated by passing an oxygen-containing gas over the absorbent at a temperature above 400.degree. C. Suitable compositions for carrying out the process are disclosed.

Abstract: A process for cooling and purifying a hot gas containing slag particles comprises the following steps:(a) the velocity of the gas mixture is reduced;(b) the flow of the gas mixture having a reduced velocity is deflected, the gas mixture being passed upward in substantially vertical direction so that part of the slag particles falls down into a fluidized bed of slag particles;(c) cold clean recycle gas is introduced through a fluidization distributor into the fluidized bed, thereby cooling the slag particles and keeping at least part of the slag particles in the fluidized bed;(d) the gas mixture flowing substantially vertically upward at reduced velocity is cooled by indirect exchange of heat, while a further quantity of slag particles falls down into the fluidized bed; and(e) the cooled slag particles are discharged from the bottom of the fluidized bed through a discharge pipe.An apparatus to carry out this procedure is also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for connecting a flowline to a subsea structure. A riser and flowline connection tool are deployed downwardly to the subsea structure and a flowline terminal head, which is at the end of the flowline, is pulled to the flowline connection tool by means of a pullcable. Then the flowline terminal head is secured to the subsea structure and the flowline connection tool is recovered to the surface. The flowline terminal head consists of a connector hub with clamping surface to which the flowline is welded, and a flexible carrier pipe of interlocking metallic rings into which the end of the flowline is inserted. The carrier pipe limits the curvature of the flowline as the terminal head is bent into alignment with a flowline receptacle of the subsea structure. The flowline terminal head may include buoyant encircling rings which keep it free of difficult terrain in the vicinity of the subsea structure.

Abstract: The instant invention discloses a method of removing heterocyclic basic nitrogen compounds from petroleum oils which comprises first enhancing the concentration of the heterocyclic basic nitrogen compounds in a portion of the petroleum oil and then extracting the enhanced portion of the heterocyclic basic nitrogen compounds with a two phase system having an aliphatic carboxylic acid as the extracting agent. In the hydrotreating embodiment of this invention a portion of all of the nitrogen compounds are converted to heterocyclic basic nitrogen compounds and thereby more feasibly extracted. In the distillation embodiment of this invention the nitrogen compounds are actually concentrated and thereby result in a more feasible extraction with the aliphatic carboxylic acid.

Abstract: Process for the removal of hydrogen sulphide from a gas mixture comprising passing the gas mixture through a reactor (2) filled with catalyst for the conversion of hydrogen sulphide to carbonyl sulphide, and separating the gas mixture leaving reactor (2) in a separator (7) at a temperature below the boiling point of carbonyl suplhide in a lighter fraction and a heavier fraction in which the carbonyl sulphide is absorbed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided to determine the distribution of fluids in a sample employing a centrifuge. The apparatus is an automated centrifuge which may employ a plurality of X-ray energies to determine a two-dimensional image of the saturation of multiple fluids in a sample. The saturation images may be used to calculate a capillary pressure curve or relative permeability curve for a borehole core sample. The X-ray source may be selectively synchronized with at least one of the rotating specimen holders to allow for preselection of which specimen holder is to be imaged by the X-ray energies. The method images a sample in a plurality of points during centrifuging to determine fluid distributions in the sample. Alternative automated centrifuges are provided which may also measure resistivity during centrifuging and may have the source and detector located on the sample holder.

Abstract: Relative permeabilities to flowing steam water and/or oil phases within cores of earth formations are determined by flowing such fluids at reservoir conditions, sealing them within the cores, X-ray scanning the sealed cores and determining the saturations from densities and/or tagged oil volumes and determining the permeabilities from measured pressures and temperatures.

Abstract: Process for producing hydrocarbon-containing liquids from biomass which comprises introducing biomass in the presence of water at a pressure higher than the partial vapor pressure of water at the prevailing temperature into a reaction zone at a temperature of at least 300.degree. C. and keeping the biomass in the reaction zone for more than 30 seconds, separating solids from fluid leaving the reaction zone while maintaining the remaining fluid in a single phase, and subsequently separating liquids from the remaining fluid.

Abstract: A pipe coating process capable of coating a pipe string after installing it in a well comprises wetting the pipe string walls with a hydrocarbon liquid containing an initially soluble block copolymer of elastomeric and glassy blocks plus a crosslinking agent for solidifying the polymer, and heating the liquid to solidify the polymer.

Abstract: Biopolymer formulation, in particular a polysaccharide-containing water in oil emulsion, process for preparing such emulsions and process for concentrating these emulsions. Aqueous systems thickened by the incorporation of biopolymer emulsions.

Abstract: A process for the separation of a two component liquid mixture is described in which the liquid mixture is passed along one side of a membrane and an extracting agent is passed on the other side of the membrane, the process being characterized by the use of a membrane impermeable to at least one component of the liquid mixture and permeable to the extracting agent.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of carboxylate esters of alpha-ethylenically unsaturated alcohols by reacting an ethylenically unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide and an enolizable ketone in the presence of a catalytic system formed by combining a palladium catalyst, a triarylphosphine and a protonic acid having a pK.sub.a below 1.5, except hydrohalogenic acids and carboxylic acids.

Abstract: Biopolymer formulation, in particular a polysaccharide-containing water in oil emulsion, process for preparing such emulsions and process for concentrating these emulsions. Aqueous systems thickened by the incorporation of biopolymer emulsions.

Abstract: In acidizing a well, fluid inclusive of at least one carbonyl compound, an aqueous liquid and at least one material which contains or forms sulfite ions in the aqueous liquid is injected to form at least one alpha-hydroxysulfonic acid in contact with acidifiable material in and around the well.

Abstract: An epoxy resin composition containing a cationic curing agent and a cure-retarding amount of a diarylamine. The diarylamine lengthens the pot life of the epoxy-curing agent composition.

Abstract: Hot liquid-containing water-swollen tar is produced from a tar sand by injecting steam into a well, which is at least initially open and substantially free of obstruction to vertical fluid flow throughout a long vertical interval from the bottom of the tar sand, by producing said liquid from the bottom of the tar sand and maintaining injection and production flow rates that keep the steam temperature above about 450.degree. F. at a pressure high enough to keep the produced liquid substantially free of steam and near to, but less than high enough to damage the reservoir.

Abstract: An apparatus to reduce the pressure drop in a riser reactor equipped with a horizontal tee joint connection which uses a mechanical implant located at a point juxtaposed the connection of the horizontal and vertical tubes to prohibit fine particle catalysts from backflow down through the elongated riser reactor which thereby provides an easy upflow of catalysts through the riser reactor.

Abstract: Solid homopolymers of an olefinic benzocyclobutene monomer of the formula ##STR1## where R.sub.1 is hydrogen or CH.sub.3 and R.sub.2 is --CH.sub.2 --.sub.n where n is 0 to 6 are claimed. Such polymers can be easily crosslinked at temperatures above about 200.degree. C.

Abstract: Films or sheets are fabricated from blends of an ethylenic polymer or copolymer, a butene-1 polymer or copolymer, and a propylene polymer or copolymer which result in improved optical clarity, heat seal strength and peel seal characteristics.