Abstract: The invention relates to a system for loading of hydrocarbons from a floating vessel, such as a FPSO or FSO vessel, to an export tanker, where the floating vessel is spread moored to a sea bottom, and where the export tanker during the loading phase is moored in such a way that the export vessel to a greater or less degree can weathervane dependent upon the prevailing weather, wave and/or wind conditions. According to invention the floating vessel at least at one end is provided with a rotatable deck which can be turned when the heading of the export tanker changes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure physical parameters such as density and porosity of the rock matrix in a near wellbore area are provided. A borehole tool having a number of transducer elements in a transducer array is placed at an outermost surface of the borehole tool and is capable of emitting focused high frequency ultrasound beams into the rock matrix in the near wellbore area. The transducer array may be placed on the ribs or stabilizers of the borehole tool, and/or on a sleeve with a lower rotational speed, and may include a fronting material with similar acoustic impedance as the rock matrix. A method for measuring physical parameters of the rock matrix in a near wellbore area is also provided where a focused high frequency ultrasound beam is emitted into the rock matrix in the near wellbore area from one or more transducer arrays on a borehole tool.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the protection of internal filters of a LTFT slurry bubble reactor. The method includes the step of activating an emergency back-flush procedure during low slurry level conditions and/or during increasing temperature of an internal filter.

Abstract: System for loading and unloading of hydrocarbons in waters with varying conditions, comprising an icebreaking vessel (10) moored to a sea bed (12) by a turret buoy (11) and where a tanker (16) by at least one hawser (17) is moored with its bow to the aft end of the icebreaker either at a distance from the icebreaker (10) in situations without influence from ice, or in physical contact with the icebreaker in situation when ice is present. The system further comprises at least one hose (24) and valve system for transferring hydrocarbons from the icebreaker (10) to the tanker (16).

Abstract: This invention provides a reactor for carbon nano-fibre production comprising a generally horizontal elongate cylindrical reaction vessel arranged to rotate about its cylindrical axis and containing in use a particulate catalyst-containing reaction bed, said reaction vessel having a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port positioned such that one of said inlet and outlet ports is in said bed and the other is outside said bed.

Abstract: A method is provided for analyzing data from an electromagnetic survey of a region so as to indicate the presence of a hydrocarbon reservoir. The survey provides vertical magnetic dipole data and electric dipole data, or provides measurement data from which these dipole data may be determined. The amplitude of the vertical magnetic dipole data is determined, optionally after normalising the data with reference date relating to the same region. Similarly, the amplitude of the electric dipole data is determined, optionally after similarly being normalised. The amplitudes are then compared to provide an indication of the likelihood of the presence of hydrocarbons in the region.

Abstract: A method for controlling a wind turbine installation for the damping tower oscillations, in particular a buoyant wind turbine installation comprising a buoyant body, a tower arranged over the buoyant body, a generator mounted on the tower that is rotatable in relation to the wind direction and fitted with a wind turbine, and an anchor line arrangement connected to anchors or foundations on the sea bed. The tower oscillations are damped by the control with the blade angle controller in the constant power or RPM range of the wind turbine being performed by the rotor velocity (which is the input to the blade angle controller) being estimated in an estimator for the wind turbine. The input to the wind turbine estimator is the estimated incoming wind, so that the tower movements are not visible to the blade angle controller.

Abstract: A method for production of hydrogen including reforming of a carbon comprising fuel is provided together with production plants adapted for obtaining hydrogen at lower temperatures and/or higher pressures and obtaining a CO2 rich rest gas stream. A reformer and a water gas shift reactor are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of protecting a hydrocarbon conduit during a period of reduced hydrocarbon flow, said method comprising introducing nitrogen into said conduit during a said period at a pressure p of 1 to 350 bar g and at a rate of (1.5 to 35). A kg/sec (where A is the internal cross sectional area of the conduit in square metres) for a period of t hours where t=p.d/n where d is the length in km of the conduit from the nitrogen introduction location and n is 10 to 400.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of well construction or treatment which comprises introducing a setable cement composition down a borehole, characterized in that said composition contains pulverulent aplite. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reflection time shift matching a first and a second set of seismic reflection data (10,30) comprising first and second seismic reflection traces (1,3) with series of generally corresponding seismic reflections (11,31). The second set of seismic data (30) comprises at least one laterally extending series (40) of new seismic events (4) not present in the first set of seismic data (10). Reflection time shifts (22) are calculated as required for matching seismic reflections (31) of the second reflection traces (3) of the second seismic reflection data (30) with corresponding seismic reflections (11) of the first reflection traces (1). The calculation of the time shifts (22) are made by calculating coefficients of basis function estimates such as Legendre polynomials in order to save calculation effort.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microorganism growth substrate which comprises a sterile nutrient composition derived from the biomass of a culture of bacteria including methanotrophic bacteria and further containing at least one sterile nutrient. A preferred biomass material is that derived from a microbial culture comprising Methylococcus capsulates (Bath) (strain NCIMB 41526), Ralstonia sp. DB3 (strain NCIMB 41527) and Brevibacillus agri DB5 (strain NCIMB 41525), optionally in combination with Aneurinibacillus sp. DB4 (strain NCIMB 41528).

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing a culture of subterranean microorganisms, said method comprising: obtaining a sample of pressurized fluid from a subterranean reservoir; while maintaining said sample under pressure transferring it into a fermentation reactor; and incubating said sample in said reactor under elevated pressure.

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 method in connection with a wind turbine installation for damping tower vibrations, in particular a floating wind turbine installation comprising a floating cell, a tower arranged over the floating cell, a generator mounted on the tower that is rotatable in relation to the wind direction and fitted with a wind turbine, and an anchor line arrangement connected to anchors or foundations on the sea bed. The tower's eigenvibrations, ?eig, are damped by, in addition to control with the controller in the constant power or RPM range of the wind turbine, an increment, ??, being added to the blade angle of the turbine blades on the basis of the tower velocities, ?Z, so that the eigenvibrations are counteracted.