Abstract: Methane and liquid hydrocarbon feeds boiling above 350.degree. C. are reacted by feeding finely divided droplets into hot gas at not more than 2 MPa containing at least 50% volume methane and not more than 15% volume hydrogen.

Abstract: A composition for use after reductive activation as a catalyst in the conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons, which composition comprises as essential components (i) cobalt either as the elemental metal, the oxide or a compound thermally decomposable to the elemental metal and/or oxide and (ii) zinc in the form of the oxide or a compound thermally decomposable to the oxide.

Abstract: A process for preparing cyclic phosphonic monoesters comprising subjecting aryloxyphosphines of defined formulae to flash pyrolysis, is provided. The aryloxyphosphines are those having the general formula ##STR1## where Ar is aryl and R is a hydrocarbyl radical capable of forming unsaturated hydrocarbon on severance of the C--O linkages.

Abstract: A composition for use after reduction activation as a catalyst in the conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons, the composition having formula: Ru.sub.a A.sub.b CeO.sub.

Abstract: A flywheel comprising a rim (1) which is a substantially circular ring mounted on a central portion (2) which central portion comprises at least one substantially circular dished member which has a specific modulus which is less than the specific modulus of the rim, the dished member being curved such that increasing rotational speed tends to elastically deform the dished member, straightening the curve, thereby increasing the diameter of the dished member. In a preferred embodiment, the central portion (2) comprises at least two co-axial dished members (3,4) which are imperforate apart from a central hole (5), each dished member comprising three integrally formed annular portions, two of the portions (6,8) being curved and being positioned on each side of the third portion which is straight or curved.

Abstract: Heavy crude oil is recovered from tar sand by treating the tar sand with a low concentration emulsion of a solvent in water containing 0.5 to 15% by volume of the solvent. Suitable solvents include hydrocarbons and halogenated hydrocarbons. Solvent-in-water emulsions are efficient in extracting bitumen with the major advantage of greatly reduced solvent: tar sand ratios.

Abstract: A transport detector system comprises(a) a liquid delivery tube,(b) a plurality of moveable spokes, the spokes being positioned to pass in sequence under the delivery tube, the spokes being constructed from a refractory inorganic material of low thermal conductivity,(c) one or more evaporators, positioned so that the spokes pass sequentially through it or them after liquid has been deposited on the spokes,(d) a detector positioned so that the spokes pass sequentially through it after passage through the evaporator(s),(e) one or more coolers, positioned so that the spokes pass through it or them after passage through the detector,(f) a stepper motor adapted to move the spokes in a series of discrete steps, and(g) a control system for the stepper motor, evaporators and coolers.The system is particularly suitable for use in HPLC analysis and may be interfaced with a plasma spectrometer.

Abstract: A process for preparing carbonate esters by the oxidative carbonylation of an alcohol is provided. The process comprises reacting an alcohol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl peroxide the process being characterized by the fact that the carbon monoxide pressure at the reaction temperature is less than 15 bars and by the fact that a catalyst comprising a platinum group metal and a copper compound is employed. The process is useful for preparing dimethyl carbonate from methanol and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: Organic material, particularly organic material floating on a water surface, can be encapsulated by reacting, in the presence of the organic material, (A) a functionalized liquid polymer containing anhydride functional groups which groups are derived from an alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride and (B) an alkoxylated fatty monoamine or polyamine having from 1.5 to 15 moles of alkoxylate per mole of fatty amine. The functionalized polymer (A) may be, for example, maleinized polybutadiene and the alkoxylated fatty amine may be, for example, N,N.sup.1, N.sup.1 -tris (2-hydroxypropyl)-N-oleyl-1,3-diaminopropane. Preferably, the alkoxylated fatty amine is derived from a fatty amine having an iodine value of at least 65. The method may also be used to encapsulate a solid contaminated with organic material e.g. oil drilling cuttings.

Abstract: An overpressure device for applying pressure from a first hydraulic fluid to a second hydraulic fluid comprises:(a) a housing in which is located a piston(b) an opening in the housing for the entry of the first hydraulic fluid to one side of the piston(c) a second opening in the housing for the entry of the second hydraulic fluid to a chamber on the other side of the piston whereby the pressure of the first hydraulic fluid is exerted on the second hydraulic fluid, and(d) an additional means of exerting pressure on the piston so that pressure exerted on the second hydraulic fluid is greater than that of the first hydraulic fluid alone.The overpressure device is particularly suitable for use in applying pressure to the sealing system of the ball valve described in European patent application No. 82302173 when used to control the flow of fluid, e.g. crude oil in a pipeline. The overpressure device enables the pressure in the pipeline to provide a portion of the pressure required to pressurize the sealing system.

Abstract: The salt content of crude oil is reduced by washing crude oil containing residual salt water with wash water of lower salinity than the water present in the crude oil and allowing the resulting mixture to settle into a layer of crude oil of reduced salt water content and a layer of saline water. The quantity of wash water employed is greater than 7.5% by volume of the crude oil.The saline water may be recycled and a proportion removed from the recycle stream and a corresponding quantity of water of lower salinity added.Washing with relatively large quantities of water results in the formation of a less stable emulsion. Consequently, less severe conditions are required to break it to recover the desalted crude oil.

Abstract: An electrically conductive coupling, suitable for passing an electric current to or from an underwater well or underwater equipment comprises:(a) an outer body having, on its inner surface, a recess,(b) an inner body having, on its outer surface, a recess, the recesses being positioned so that they are aligned when the inner and outer bodies are mated to form an annular space,(c) a resilient non-conductive member associated with the outer body having at least one inset conductive contact,(d) a resilient non-conductive member associated with the inner body having at least one inset conductive contact, the two conductive members occupying the annular space and providing, through their inset conductive contacts an electrical path between the outer and inner bodies, and(e) a passage for dielectric fluid to pass from the inner to the outer body or vice versa between the resilient non-conductive members and around or through the contact surfaces of the inset contacts.

Abstract: Aromatic hydrocarbons are produced from a feedstock comprising ethane and/or propane and/or butane by the steps of:(A) reacting the feedstock in the presence of a dehydrocyclodimerization catalyst to produce a product comprising aromatic hydrocarbons, hydrogen and methane,(B) separating the product of step (A) into an aromatic hydrocarbon fraction, a methane-rich gaseous fraction and a hydrogen-rich gaseous fraction,(C) feeding all or part of the methane-rich gaseous fraction separated in step (B) to a synthesis gas production unit, thereby to produce synthesis gas, and(D) contacting the synthesis gas from step (C) together with all or part of the hydrogen-rich gaseous fraction separated in step (B), thereby increasing the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio of the synthesis gas, with a Fischer-Tropsch conversion catalyst to produce a hydrocarbon product.

Abstract: Hydrogen sulphide is scavenged from a feedstock comprising crude oil and hydrogen sulphide by adding a compound of general formula: ##STR1## to the feedstock. X and Y are carbon or nitrogen atoms and the interatomic bond is triple or double as appropriate. Any two or more of R.sup.1 -R.sup.4 are organic groups containing electronegative functional groups. The remaining two or less of R.sup.1 -R.sup.4 are hydrocarbyl groups, hydrogen atoms or zero.Preferred scavengers include di-isopropylazo dicarboxylate and dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate.

Abstract: A leaf spring of fibre reinforced composite material comprises a longitudinal cross-section having a thickened central zone, adjacent tapered zones and end zones. The tapered zones have curved surfaces comprising convex and concave portions, the convex portions being adjacent to the central zones and the concave portions being adjacent to the end zones. Each convex and concave portion is a segment of a curve defined by the equation(X/A).sup.c +(Y/B).sup.D =1.

Abstract: A method for the identification of diamonds in which a sample (3) to be identified is placed in a beam of monochromatic laser radiation (2) of pre-determined wavelength. The scattered Raman radiation emitted from the sample (3) is passed through a filter (4) adapted to pass only scattered Raman radiation of frequency characteristic of a diamond. The filtered radiation is then detected by the human eye (5) or a photocell device.

Abstract: Alkyl-, aryl- or alkylaryl-alkoxy halides are prepared by reacting the corresponding alcohol, phenol or alkyl phenol with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide in the presence of an amine catalyst to form an alkoxy alcohol, and directly reacting the latter with a halogenating agent in the continuing presence of the amine catalyst.Neutralization of the product and/or catalyst removal from the first stage is no longer necessary and reaction rates and yields are increased in the second stage.

Abstract: This invention relates to poly(acetylene) films having localized zones of a material other than poly(acetylene) with modified optical and electrical properties. The films are formed by selectively irradiating discrete areas of a film of a precursor polymer followed by heating of the irradiated precursor polymer to transform the non-irradiated areas into poly(acetylene). The resultant product has localized zones of modified electrical and optical properties which are useful in the semiconductor industries and in optical devices.

Abstract: A sealing assembly (20) for a ball valve comprises two non compressible and relatively movable members, for example the ball (24) and seal housing (26) of a ball valve, having located therebetween a sealing element (32) which is inflatable by the introduction of hydraulic fluid.The sealing element (32) is located in a recess in member (26) so that when the hydraulic pressure is released the element (32) retracts into the recess to release the sealing engagement and facilitate the relative movement of members (24, 26). A resilient rubber ring (40) is provided to bias the seal housing (26) away from the position of sealing engagement to also facilitate movement of members (24, 26). A second sealing element (25) is also provided. Both elements are carried by the seal housing (26) which is in the form of an annular piston movable by the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: An aqueous based coating composition comprises particulate zinc and inorganic oxide particles having corrosion inhibiting ions chemically bound to their surface by ion exchange. The composition preferably contains an electrolyte to accelerate the curing reaction.