Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of biomass by culturing a microorganism in an aqueous liquid culture medium circulating in a loop reactor having an effluent gas removal zone where from carbon dioxide-containing effluent gas is removed from the reactor and upstream thereof a degassing zone in which a driving gas is introduced to drive carbon dioxide in the liquid phase into a separable effluent gas phase and having upstream of said degassing zone a nutrient gas introduction zone in which oxygen is introduced into the reactor and mixed with the liquid culture medium therein, characterized in that oxygen introduction in said nutrient gas introduction zone is effected at a plurality of locations along the flow path through said loop reactor at a rate such that the average dissolved oxygen content of said liquid culture medium measured using a polarographic oxygen electrode does not exceed 25 ppm.

Abstract: Hot tap clamp, comprising a first clamp part, a second clamp part, means for stable fastening of the clamp parts around a section of a pipeline that shall be provided with a hot tap coupling, a pipe socket fixedly integrated with one of the clamp parts at an inner end and extending outwards from the clamp part to an outer end, a hub on the outer end of the pipe socket, distinguished in that the pipe socket at the inner end is going through the clamp part abutting the surface of the pipeline, such that the pipe socket can be scalingly welded to the pipeline by internal welding.

Abstract: A method for the production of particulate carbon products in a reactor vessel wherein gas flow between a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port suspends a bed of catalyst-containing particulate material in the vessel and wherein the product is discharged from the vessel by falling from the bed.

Abstract: A method of conducting a seismic survey of an area including a region of high seismic velocity regimes in a shallow overburden. According to the method, a zone is identified in which the boundary of the high seismic velocity region has a substantially constant critical angle and a course is plotted through the identified zone. A zone based directional seismic source is applied sequentially, with a directivity angle equal to or close to the measured critical angle. The response is detected using receivers.

Abstract: An instrument for studying an object (12) comprising a movable interferometer having a laser source and a plurality of detectors (24) arranged in an array. The laser source is expanded and arranged to direct a converging object beam (21) towards a point (22) or line beyond the object (12) whereby a speckle pattern of light reflected from the object (12) is detected by the detector or detector array (24). The point (12) or line at which the laser source is arranged to converge the object beam (21) is approximately the same distance beyond the object (12) as the object is spaced from the source. The speed of movement of the instrument, the sampling rate of the detectors (24) and size of the area (23) of the object illuminated by the converging laser object beam (21) are arranged so that sequential areas (23) of the object (12) studied overlap.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of biomass by culturing a microorganism in an aqueous liquid culture medium circulating in a loop reactor having an effluent gas removal zone where from carbon dioxide-containing effluent gas is removed from the reactor and upstream thereof a degassing zone in which a driving gas is introduced to drive carbon dioxide in the liquid phase into a separable effluent gas phase and having upstream of said degassing zone a nutrient gas introduction zone in which oxygen is introduced into the reactor and mixed with the liquid culture medium therein, characterised in that oxygen introduction in said nutrient gas introduction zone is effected at a plurality of locations along the flow path through said loop reactor at a rate such that the average dissolved oxygen content of said liquid culture medium measured using a polarographic oxygen electrode does not exceed 25 ppm.

Abstract: A single stage process for desulfurization and ring opening of a sulphur containing hydrocarbon feedstock comprising: contacting said feedstock with hydrogen and a catalyst at a pressure of less than 100 bars wherein said catalyst comprises (I) a combination of molecular sieves consisting of at least one zeolite which has a faujasite structure and at least one fibrous zeolite which comprises essentially non-crossing one-dimensional channels and (II) a composition comprising at least one metal selected from group VIB of the periodic table and at least one metal from group VIII.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the treatment of a hydrocarbon well which method comprises administering, down said well, polymeric particles having covalently bound to a polymeric component thereof a well treatment chemical or a precursor thereof, wherein the particles contain covalent bonds scissile in an aqueous environment to release or expose said chemical or precursor.

Abstract: A loading system for transfer of hydrocarbons between an installation on the sea bed (16) and a floating vessel (10) in areas exposed to drifting ice. The system including a submerged turret buoy (19), a flexible riser (18) extending from the sea bed installation (24) to the buoy (19) intended to be securely connected to a corresponding pipe on board the vessel (10), and a plurality of mooring lines (17) connected to the buoy (19) and extending outwards therefrom. The system further including a riser protection element (20) for protecting the riser (18) from impacts when the riser (18) is in an extended, load transferring mode, and a protective structure (24) located in or on the sea bed (16) for protection of the riser (18) when in a retracted position in a non-operative mode; that the protective structure (24) containing riser reel (28) for storing the riser (18) in a protected position when disconnected and retracted from the vessel (10).

Abstract: Assembly to separate out liquid frotfi a multiphase fluid flow, comprising a scrubber, a column, a separator or other conventional separation equipment, combined with a deliquidizer that is connected as a preseparator to the fluid inlet. in that the deliquidizer functions according to a cyclone principle. With the assembly according to the invention the deliquidizer is modified such that it can be combined with conventional separation equipment such that a surprising improved technical effect is achieved. More specific the improved technical effect is achieved for assemblies where the deliquidizer is vertically oriented placed outside conventional separation equipment, with main flow direction upwards or downwards, or with the deliquidizer placed within conventional separation equipment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for inter alia to increase the energy and cost efficiency of a gas power plant or a thermal heat plant with CO2 capturing. The power plant comprises gas turbine plants (12,12?) comprising compressor units (13,13?) and turbine units (14,14?) and further comprises a combustor (10). The combustor (10) is working in principle with to separate gas part streams where one gas part stream flows internally through the flame tube (40) of the combustor (10), while the other gas part stream is flowing along the exterior of the flame tube (40). The first gas part stream comprises additional air and re-circulated, un-cleaned flue gas from the combustor (10), said gases being combusted together with fuel inside the flame tube (40). The second gas part stream comprises cleaned flue gas which is heated up at the exterior of the flame tube (40) while the flame tube (40) is cooled down. The invention comprises also a power plant, a combustor and a CO2 capture plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for treating a gas/liquid mixture, comprising: —an upright vessel (1) with a lower and upper compartment; —an inlet (2) for admitting the flow of mixture into the lower compartment; —an agglomerating unit (10) placed between the lower and upper compartment for enlarging the liquid droplets in the mixture; —a lower outlet (4) for discharging the substantially liquid-containing mixture part from the lower compartment; —an upper outlet (5) for discharging the substantially gas-containing mixture part from the upper compartment; characterized by —collecting means (11) for collecting on the downstream side of the agglomerating unit liquid droplets which have broken through the agglomerating unit; —recycling means (12) for recycling the collected liquid to the lower compartment from the collecting means.

Abstract: A method for increasing oil recovery from an oil reservoir by injection of gas into the reservoir, is described. The method comprises separation of air into an oxygen-rich fraction and a nitrogen-rich fraction, reformation of natural gas together with oxygen to produce a synthesis gas for production of methanol or other oxygenated hydrocarbons or higher hydrocarbons. The raw synthesis products and a waste gas from the synthesis are separated, and the nitrogen-rich fraction and at least a part of the waste gas are injected into the oil reservoir to increase the oil recovery from the reservoir. A plant for performing the method is also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the treatment of a subterranean formation which contains sand particles, said method comprising contacting said formation with a positively charged polymer capable of increasing the residual matrix strength of said sand particles whereby to reduce or prevent their migration whilst minimising any decrease in the permeability of said formation. Polymer materials suitable for use in the method of the invention include polyaminoacids, poly (diallyl ammonium salts) and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for production of electric energy and CO2 from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising steam reforming of the feedstock, separation and combustion of hydrogen and separation of CO2. Further the invention relates to a power plant for performing the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for measurement of total phase volumes in multiphase flow in pipelines. The multiphase fractions comprise hydrocarbon liquid phase and/or water phase and/or transported solid phases. One or more tracers are injected into the pipeline, preferably at the inlet and the tracer concentration(s) are measured as a function of time at the point of injection and at one or more points of measurements downstream from the point of injection. Further, the mean residence time(s) are measured for transport of the injected tracer(s) from the point of injection to said one or more point(s) measurements. The liquid phase volume(s) are calculated based on the amount of injected tracers and the measured tracer concentrations in each phase and the mean residence time.

Abstract: A method of studying a surface using an interferometer, in which there is relative motion between the surface and the interferometer, the motion having a total velocity Vtot which includes a transversal or traversing component Vt and a longitudinal component Vl.

Abstract: A 4D seismic source comprising a series of sub-arrays of guns on flotation devices. Each flotation device has a GPS device. For firing, the guns in the e.g. three sub-arrays identified as being closest to the desired firing location are selected.

Abstract: A method for increasing oil recovery from an oil reservoir in which method surplus gas streams from a plant for synthesis of higher hydrocarbons from natural gas is injected into the reservoir, is described. The surplus streams from the plant is the tailgas from the synthesis and optionally nitrogen from an air separation unit which delivers oxygen or oxygen enriched air to the plant for synthesis of higher hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A water-going liquefied carbon dioxide (LCD) transport vessel comprising a pressurised and refrigerated LCD container, a cargo discharge pump within said container for pumping LCD out of said container along a conduit, a booster pump for pumping LCD along the conduit to a platform, a first backflow line downstream of the cargo pump to the container, a second backflow line from downstream of the booster pump to the container, and optionally a heater arranged to heat LCD flowing from said vessel along the conduit.