Abstract: Combined hydroprocessing and solvent deasphalting with sequential addition of a dispersed catalyst to process heavy oil without increasing equipment fouling. An example method includes: hydroprocessing heavy oil containing dispersed catalyst particles to yield upgraded heavy oil; subjecting a resid portion of the upgraded heavy oil to solvent deasphalting to produce DAO and pitch; and hydroprocessing the deasphalted oil containing dispersed catalyst particles to yield upgraded deasphalted oil.

Abstract: An ebullated bed hydroprocessing system is upgraded and operated at modified conditions using a dual catalyst system to produce less fouling sediment. The less fouling sediment produced by the upgraded ebullated bed reactor reduces the rate of equipment fouling at any given sediment production rate and/or concentration compared to the sediment produced by the ebullated bed reactor prior to upgrading. In some cases, sediment production rate and/or concentration are maintained or increased, after upgrading the ebullated bed reactor, while equipment fouling is reduced. In other cases, sediment production rate and/or concentration are increased, after upgrading the ebullated bed reactor, without increasing equipment fouling. In some cases, sediment production rate and/or concentration are decreased by a given percentage, after upgrading the ebullated bed reactor, and the rate of equipment fouling is decreased by a substantially greater percentage.

Abstract: An ebullated bed hydroprocessing system is upgraded using a dual catalyst system that includes a heterogeneous catalyst and dispersed metal sulfide particles to improve the quality of vacuum residue. The improved quality of vacuum residue can be provided by one or more of reduced viscosity, reduced density (increased API gravity), reduced asphaltene content, reduced carbon residue content, reduced sulfur content, and reduced sediment. Vacuum residue of improved quality can be produced while operating the upgraded ebullated bed reactor at the same or higher severity, temperature, throughput and/or conversion. Similarly, vacuum residue of same or higher quality can be produced while operating the upgraded ebullated bed reactor at higher severity, temperature, throughput and/or conversion.

Abstract: An ebullated bed hydroprocessing system is upgraded using a dual catalyst system that includes a heterogeneous catalyst and dispersed metal sulfide particles to increase rate of production of converted products. The rate of production is achieved by increasing reactor severity, including increasing the operating temperature and at least one of throughput or conversion. The dual catalyst system permits increased reactor severity and provides increased production of converted products without a significant increase in equipment fouling and/or sediment production. In some cases, the rate of production of conversion products can be achieved while decreasing equipment fouling and/or sediment production.

Abstract: An ebullated bed hydroprocessing system is upgraded using a dual catalyst system that includes a heterogeneous catalyst and dispersed metal sulfide particles to hydroprocess opportunity feedstocks (i.e., lower quality heavy oils or lower quality feedstock blends) while maintaining or increasing the rate of production of converted products. The dual catalyst system improves the ability of the upgraded ebullated bed hydroprocessing system to accommodate and withstand negative effects of periodic use of opportunity feedstocks (e.g., without significantly increasing equipment fouling and/or sediment production). In some cases, an upgraded ebullated bed reactor using the dual catalyst system can hydroprocess opportunity feedstocks while decreasing equipment fouling and/or sediment production.

Abstract: An ebullated bed hydroprocessing system is upgraded using a dual catalyst system that includes a heterogeneous catalyst and dispersed metal sulfide particles to produce less fouling sediment. The dual catalyst system more effectively converts sediment-forming precursors to produce sediment that is less fouling than sediment produced using only the heterogeneous catalyst and not the dispersed metal sulfide particles. The dual catalyst system provides for a lower rate of equipment fouling for a given sediment production rate and/or concentration. In some cases, sediment production rate and/or concentration can be maintained or increased while equipment fouling is reduced. In some cases, sediment production rate and/or concentration can be increased without increasing equipment fouling.

Abstract: An ebullated bed hydroprocessing system is upgraded using a dual catalyst system that includes a heterogeneous catalyst and dispersed metal sulfide particles, which permits recycling of vacuum bottoms without recycle buildup of asphaltenes. The dual catalyst system more effectively converts asphaltenes in the ebullated bed reactor and increases asphaltene conversion by an amount that at least offsets higher asphaltene concentration resulting from recycling of vacuum bottoms. In this way, there is no recycle buildup of asphaltenes in upgraded ebullated bed reactor notwithstanding recycling of vacuum bottoms. In addition, residual dispersed metal sulfide catalyst particles in the vacuum bottoms can maintain or increase the concentration of the dispersed metal sulfide catalyst in the ebullated bed reactor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mixing a catalyst precursor with a heavy oil feedstock preparatory to hydroprocessing the heavy oil feedstock in a reactor to form an upgraded feedstock. Achieving very good dispersion of the catalyst precursor facilitates and maximizes the advantages of the colloidal or molecular hydroprocessing catalyst. A catalyst precursor and a heavy oil feedstock having a viscosity greater than the viscosity of the catalyst precursor are provided. The catalyst precursor is pre-mixed with a hydrocarbon oil diluent, forming a diluted catalyst precursor. The diluted precursor is then mixed with at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock so as to form a catalyst precursor-heavy oil feedstock mixture. Finally, the catalyst precursor-heavy oil feedstock mixture is mixed with any remainder of the heavy oil feedstock, resulting in the catalyst precursor being homogeneously dispersed on a colloidal and/or molecular level within the heavy oil feedstock.

Abstract: Systems for mixing a catalyst precursor with a heavy oil feedstock preparatory to hydroprocessing the heavy oil feedstock in a reactor to form an upgraded feedstock. Achieving very good dispersion of the catalyst precursor facilitates and maximizes the advantages of the colloidal or molecular hydroprocessing catalyst. A catalyst precursor and a heavy oil feedstock having a viscosity greater than the viscosity of the catalyst precursor are provided. The catalyst precursor is pre-mixed with a hydrocarbon oil diluent, forming a diluted catalyst precursor. The diluted precursor is then mixed with at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock so as to form a catalyst precursor-heavy oil feedstock mixture. Finally, the catalyst precursor-heavy oil feedstock mixture is mixed with any remainder of the heavy oil feedstock, resulting in the catalyst precursor being homogeneously dispersed on a colloidal and/or molecular level within the heavy oil feedstock.

Abstract: A system and method for preparing and conditioning a heavy oil feedstock for hydroprocessing in a hydroprocessing system includes forming metal sulfide catalyst particles in situ within the heavy oil feedstock. The metal sulfide catalyst particles are formed in situ by (1) premixing a catalyst precursor with a hydrocarbon diluent to form a diluted precursor mixture, (2) mixing the diluted precursor mixture with the heavy oil feedstock to form a conditioned feedstock, and (3) heating the conditioned feedstock to decompose the catalyst precursor and cause or allow metal from the precursor to react with sulfur in the heavy oil feedstock to form metal sulfide catalyst particles in situ in the heavy oil feedstock. The in situ formed metal sulfide catalyst particles catalyze beneficial upgrading reactions between the heavy oil feedstock and hydrogen and eliminates or reduces formation of coke precursors and sediment.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for indicating an existence of a link to information pertaining to an article of commerce. The present disclosure provides for downloading a look-up table from a server database to a mobile device via a communication network. The look-up table is configured to store a plurality of UPC numbers associated with a plurality of articles of commerce and a plurality of information link indicators. Each information link indicator is associated with a respective UPC number and article of commerce and indicates the existence of a link via the communication network to information pertaining to the respective article of commerce. The mobile device allows a consumer to immediately determine if product information is available for a particular article of commerce, via a visual or audible indication on the mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for indicating an existence of a link to information pertaining to an article of commerce. The present disclosure provides for downloading a look-up table from a server database to a mobile device via a communication network. The look-up table is configured to store a plurality of UPC numbers associated with a plurality of articles of commerce and a plurality of information link indicators. Each information link indicator is associated with a respective UPC number and article of commerce and indicates the existence of a link via the communication network to information pertaining to the respective article of commerce. The mobile device allows a consumer to immediately determine if product information is available for a particular article of commerce, via a visual or audible indication on the mobile device, without access to the communication network.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for indicating an existence of a link to information pertaining to an article of commerce. The present disclosure provides for downloading a look-up table from a server database to a mobile device via a communication network. The look-up table is configured to store a plurality of UPC numbers associated with a plurality of articles of commerce and a plurality of information link indicators. Each information link indicator is associated with a respective UPC number and article of commerce and indicates the existence of a link via the communication network to information pertaining to the respective article of commerce. The mobile device allows a consumer to immediately determine if product information is available for a particular article of commerce, via a visual or audible indication on the mobile device, without access to the communication network.

Abstract: Methods and systems for hydroprocessing heavy oil feedstocks to form upgraded material use a colloidal or molecular catalyst dispersed within heavy oil feedstock, pre-coking hydrocracking reactor, separator, and coking reactor. The colloidal or molecular catalyst promotes upgrading reactions that reduce the quantity of asphaltenes or other coke forming precursors in the feedstock, increase hydrogen to carbon ratio in the upgraded material, and decrease boiling points of hydrocarbons in the upgraded material. The methods and systems can be used to upgrade vacuum tower bottoms and other low grade heavy oil feedstocks.

Abstract: Electrical stimulation to cardiac tissue stabilizes atrial and ventricular arrhythmia when timed to stabilize a limit cycle structure in a Poincare map. Disclosed are methods and apparatus, operational internally or externally, for removing the reentrant effects of heterogeneity present in a diseased heart and returning the heart to an improved metabolic status allowing removal of support. The methods and apparatus disclosed are also useful in the chronic surveillance and maintenance of regularized contractility in an aged or diseased heart.

Abstract: Methods for hydrocracking a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock (e.g., heavy oil and/or coal resid) employ a catalyst composed of well dispersed metal sulfide catalyst particles (e.g., colloidally or molecularly dispersed catalyst particles, such as molybdenum sulfide), which provide an increased concentration of metal sulfide catalyst particles within lower quality materials requiring additional hydrocracking. In addition to increased metal sulfide catalyst concentration, the systems and methods provide increased reactor throughput, increased reaction rate, and higher conversion of asphaltenes and lower quality materials. Increased conversion of asphaltenes and lower quality materials also reduces equipment fouling, enables processing of a wider range of lower quality feedstocks, and leads to more efficient use of a supported catalyst if used in combination with the well dispersed metal sulfide catalyst particles.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon-soluble molybdenum catalyst precursors include a plurality of molybdenum cations and a plurality of carboxylate anions having at least 8 carbon atoms. The carboxylate anions are alicyclic, aromatic, or branched, unsaturated and aliphatic, and can derived from carboxylic acids selected from 3-cyclopentylpropionic acid, cyclohexanebutyric acid, biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid, 4-heptylbenzoic acid, 5-phenylvaleric acid, geranic acid, 10-undecenoic acid, dodecanoic acid, and combinations thereof. The molybdenum salts have decomposition temperatures higher than 210° C. The catalyst precursors can form a hydroprocessing molybdenum sulfide catalyst in heavy oil feedstocks. Also disclosed are methods for making catalyst precursors and hydrocracking heavy oil using active catalysts.

Abstract: A ram tensioner system with a deck mountable frame having an upper portion and a lower portion connected by a plurality of cylinder sleeves and at least one guide post sleeve. A guide post engages the guide post sleeves, and an individually replaceable modular cylinder is in each cylinder sleeve along with at least one individually removable seal gland that is lubricated by a hydraulic power unit, and a slidable rod engaging each of the cylinders. The slidable rods can be attached to the tension deck with a tension ring to engage a riser and provide movable tension to the riser.

Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a method for identifying at least one aptamer that can bind to a bio-molecular target. The aptamer is designed in silico based on the structure of the target molecule. The process includes the steps of determining a first seed residue and growing an oligomer, one residue at a time, while maximizing the entropy of target-oligomer complex or minimizing the binding energy after the addition of each oligomer.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon-soluble molybdenum catalyst precursors include a plurality of molybdenum cations that are each bonded with a plurality of organic anions to form an oil soluble molybdenum salt. A portion of the molybdenum atoms are in the 3+ oxidation state such that the plurality of molybdenum atoms has an average oxidation state of less than 4+, e.g., less than about 3.8+, especially less than about 3.5+. The catalyst precursors can form a hydroprocessing molybdenum sulfide catalyst in heavy oil feedstocks. The oil soluble molybdenum salts are manufactured in the presence of a reducing agent, such as hydrogen gas, to obtain the molybdenum in the desired oxidation state. Preferably the reaction is performed with hydrogen or an organic reducing agent and at a temperature such that the molybdenum atoms are reduced to eliminate substantially all molybdenum oxide species.