Abstract: The invention relates to a cylindrical vessel having a cylindrical shell provided internally with a tube bundle having a number of parallel tubes and axially spaced apart transverse supports for supporting the tubes in the cylindrical vessel, wherein each transverse support is a sheet of expanded metal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst carrier, catalyst and catalyst precursor comprising a refractory metal oxide and support structure comprising a wire gauze having between 1002 to 6002 openings per inch2, and having a wire thickness in the range of 20 micrometer to 110 micrometer. The volume of the support structure is less than 50% of the volume of the catalyst carrier and at least 70% of said openings are filled with the refractory metal oxide.

Abstract: A feed nozzle assembly for introducing a mixture of a gas and a liquid hydrocarbon droplets into a vessel in the form of a substantially sheet-like spray, which feed nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle body provided at its upstream part with means to supply the gas and means to supply the liquid hydrocarbon to said nozzle body and at the downstream end with a closed outlet end which outlet end is provided with an elongated opening wherein in the opening an insert is positioned such that a continuous loop opening results for discharge of the mixture of gas and liquid droplets.

Abstract: A system for heating a subsurface formation is described. The system includes an elongated heater in an opening in the formation. The elongated heater includes two or more portions along the length of the heater that have different power outputs. At least one portion of the elongated heater includes at least one temperature limited portion with at least one selected temperature at which the portion provides a reduced heat output. The heater is configured to provide heat to the formation with the different power outputs. The heater is configured so that the heater heats one or more portions of the formation at one or more selected heating rates.

Abstract: By controlling one or more properties of a gasoline-oxygenate blend, a gasoline-oxygenate blend may be blended to contain at least one alcohol that exhibits acceptable properties and characteristics. This blend and the preferred method of preparing this blend includes an alcohol, most preferably ethanol, to reduce or eliminate the introduction of MTBE while offering acceptable properties such as volatility and temperature while effectively reducing pollutant emissions.

Abstract: A system for transmitting electric power into a bore hole, the system having an electric transmission line extending through the bore hole between an electric power source and a receiving station, wherein the receiving station includes frequency increasing means for increasing the frequency of the electric current supplied through the electric transmission line, voltage converter means for changing the voltage of the electric current supplied to it via the frequency increasing means, connecting means for supplying the frequency-increased electric current to the voltage converter means, and means for connecting an electric load to the receiving station.

Abstract: An apparatus for perforating a casing string including a first module and a second module, each including a gun assembly. The first module is positioned longitudinally adjacent the second module on the casing string. Each module contains a firing assembly for igniting the gun assembly in the first module, a remote signaler to remotely detonate the firing assembly, and ballistic transfer assembly for igniting the gun assembly in the second module. The ballistic transfer assembly includes a booster charge.

Abstract: A fuel composition is provided that contains a major amount of a mixture of hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range and a minor amount of a certain aniline additive compound. Use of such aniline additive compound in a combustion engine is also provided.

Abstract: A method for selecting a candidate reservoir for enhanced oil recovery from a plurality of reservoirs comprising selecting a reservoir, calculating a normalized raw score based on target oil for the reservoir (STarget Oil), calculating a normalized raw score based on recovery factor for the reservoir (SRecovery Factor), and evaluating the plurality of reservoirs based on STarget Oil and SRecovery Factor.

Abstract: Catalytic cracking riser reactor extending between an inlet for hydrocarbonaceous feed and catalyst particles and an outlet for discharging cracked products and spent catalyst particles, which riser reactor has been provided with at least one contacting device, wherein the contacting device comprises a composite of refractory material and a metal structure, which metal structure is connected to the outer wall of the riser reactor. If more contacting devices have been provided, they are preferably axially spaced apart and are disposed along the inner surface of the riser reactor.

Abstract: A method including a) injecting into the formation an aqueous solution containing a polymer and a surfactant to create a organic phase and a aqueous phase, the surfactant being capable of reducing the interfacial tension between the phases to less than 1 dyne/cm; b) recovering a portion of the organic and aqueous phases containing at least a portion of the polymer and surfactant components and a portion of native petroleum surfactants generated in the porous formation; c) adjusting the conditions of the recovered portions to force a portion of the polymer and surfactant from one phase into the other phase by use of chemical, physical, electrical or gravitational means or a combination of said means; d) separating the polymer-and surfactant-containing phase; e) concentrating the polymer and surfactant components in the separated phase; and f) re-injecting at least a portion of the concentrated polymer and surfactant components into the formation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing such gas separation membrane system that includes applying to a surface of a porous substrate a layer of a nanopowder of a gas-selective metal and, thereafter, heat-treating the resultant surface treated porous substrate to yield a heat-treated and surface-treated porous substrate suitable for use as a gas separation membrane system.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for the production of pure hydrogen by steam reforming. The process integrates the steam reforming and shift reaction to produce pure hydrogen with minimal production of CO and virtually no CO in the hydrogen stream, provides for CO2 capture for sequestration, employs a steam reforming membrane reactor, and is powered by heat from the convection section of a heater.

Abstract: Contact of a crude feed with one or more catalysts containing a transition metal sulfide produces a total product that includes a crude product. The crude feed has a residue content of at least 0.2 grams of residue per gram of crude feed. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa. One or more properties of the crude product may be changed by at least 10% relative to the respective properties of the crude feed. In some embodiments, gas is produced during contact with one or more catalysts and the crude feed.

Abstract: Contact of a crude feed with one or more catalysts produces a total product that include a crude product. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa. 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: Contact of a crude feed with one or more catalysts produces a total product that includes a crude product. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa. The one or more catalysts may include a catalyst that has a median pore diameter of at least 90 ?. One or more properties of the crude product may be changed by at least 10% relative to the respective properties of the crude feed.

Abstract: A gas burner assembly for heating a subsurface formation includes an oxidant conduit, a fuel conduit, and a plurality of oxidizers coupled to the oxidant conduit. At least one of the oxidizers includes a mix chamber for mixing fuel from the fuel conduit with oxidant from the oxidant conduit, an igniter, and a shield. The shield includes a plurality of openings in communication with the oxidant conduit. At least one flame stabilizer is coupled to the shield.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for using an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system that supplies an electrical current such that a metallic structure (10) has a negative voltage of between 0.5 and 1.5 Volt relative to earth to power one or more electrical appliances (5), the method comprising: —providing one or more electrical appliances (5) which each have a pair of electrical contacts (1,2); —connecting one electrical contact (1) of each electrical appliance to the structure; and —connecting the other electrical contact (2) of each electrical appliance to earth, thereby providing electrical power to each of the electrical appliances. It is preferred that the electrical appliances (5) are equipped with one or more DC-DC power converters (6) which are configured to enhance an electrical input voltage of between 0.5 and 1.5 Volt to an electrical output voltage of between 3 and 5 Volt.

Abstract: The invention includes method and apparatus for controlling the stability of a burner, preferably a low NOx burner, of a natural draft heater. The method includes measuring the draft over a time period and generating a measured output from which a draft function is determined that defines the relationship between the draft and time during the time period. A value for the burner stability is defined that is representative of a stable burner operation. The draft function is compared to the stable burner value to determine a differential value, and the operation of the fired heater is adjusted in response to the differential value. The apparatus includes means for measuring the draft over a time period and means for generating a measured output from which a draft function is determined that is proportional to the cyclic variation of the draft during the time period.

Abstract: A process for producing a purified synthesis gas stream from a contaminated feed synthesis gas stream is disclosed. A part of the feed synthesis gas stream is subjected to a water gas shift step. The water gas shift step is used in combination with bulk contaminant removal followed by polishing to thereby remove the contaminants from the synthesis gas stream so as to provide the purified synthesis gas stream having a desired low level of contaminants.