Abstract: In some embodiments, a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to generate a first matrix, based on equations that model a reservoir, that includes mass conservation and volume balance information for grid blocks in the reservoir; to generate a second matrix, based on the first matrix, that includes saturation information and pressure information of each grid block; to remove the saturation information from the second matrix to generate a third matrix that includes only pressure information; to solve the third matrix to generate a first pressure solution; to solve the second matrix based on the first pressure solution to generate a first saturation solution and a second pressure solution; and to use the first saturation solution and the second pressure solution to generate a solution of the first matrix. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A disclosed method for gas lift rate management includes collecting production system data. The method also includes performing a simulation based on the collected data, a fluid model, and a fully-coupled set of equations. The method also includes expediting convergence of a solution for the simulation by selecting well production rates and adjusting gas lift rates. The method also includes storing the gas lift rates determined for the solution for use with gas lift operations of the production system. A disclosed gas lift rate management system includes a memory having a gas lift rate management module and one or more processors coupled to the memory.

Abstract: A disclosed method for a hydrocarbon production system includes collecting production system data. The method also includes performing a simulation based on the collected data, a fluid model, and a fully-coupled set of equations. The method also includes expediting convergence of a solution for the simulation by reducing occurrences of non-physical attributes during the simulation. The method also includes storing control parameters determined for the solution for use with the production system.

Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, methods, and articles may operate to compute, in parallel, to determine values of unknowns in network equations associated with a network of sub-surface wells and at least one surface facility, for intra-well subdivisions of the network, and then for inter-well subdivisions of the network, wherein the computing is based on default values of the unknowns, or prior determined values of the unknowns. Additional activities may include constructing a distributed Jacobian matrix having portions comprising coefficients of the unknowns distributed among a number of processors, wherein each of the portions is distributed to a particular one of the processors previously assigned to corresponding ones of the subdivisions. The Jacobian matrix may be factored to provide factors and eliminate some of the unknowns. Back-solving is used to determine remaining unsolved ones of the unknowns, using the factors. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining operating settings for a fluid production system that includes wells and a processing facility, the method including identifying at least one swing well and one or more non-swing wells and determining at least one target parameter equation that is a function of at least one processing facility constraint and one or more non-swing well parameters. The method further includes incorporating the target parameter equation into a fully-coupled equation set representing the production system, simulating the production system using the fully-coupled equation set to obtain one or more operating settings that meet the processing facility constraint, and presenting to a user the operating settings.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining operating settings of a fluid production system with a gathering network and a plurality of reservoirs, at least some of which include a method that includes lumping common pseudo-components into reservoir pseudo-components associated with each of the reservoirs. Each common pseudo-component is associated with the gathering network and maps to one reservoir pseudo-component of each of the reservoirs. The method further includes performing at least part of a fully-coupled simulation of the gathering network and the reservoirs using the common pseudo-components to obtain one or more operating settings that meet one or more constraints of the production system, and presenting to a user the operating settings.

Abstract: Oil or gas fields and associated facilities are computer simulated by solving linear algebraic equations using a Schwarz method with at least one well node included in the overlap. According to another aspect, equations for the wellbore nodes are processed to eliminate some non-pressure variables, e.g. component compositions. Other features are also provided.

Abstract: Simulation system and method for a reservoir represented by a model having a plurality of matrix nodes, a plurality of fracture nodes, a fracture zone and a fracture-free zone are described. One embodiment includes computer-implemented steps of, for each of a plurality of matrix nodes in interconnected zones, characterizing the matrix nodes as dual matrix nodes or non-dual matrix nodes. Dual matrix nodes may be treated as a block and eliminated, after which the coefficient matrix and RHS vector for the model are updated. In-fill patterns between and among fracture nodes and non-dual matrix nodes resulting from the elimination are determined. For non-dual matrix nodes, the nodes are merged to a fracture grid, after which the coefficient matrix and RHS vector for the model are updated accordingly. The resultant linear system is linearly solved, and backsolving is performed for any eliminated dual matrix nodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for 2D domain decomposition during parallel reservoir simulation to balance the active cells in a reservoir model.

Abstract: A wireless ultrasound probe has a probe case enclosing a transducer array, an acquisition circuit, a transceiver and a battery. The probe also includes a loudspeaker which produces audible sounds as a function of the range between the wireless probe and a host system. When the probe is within a near field range of the host system, the loudspeaker is silent. But if the probe is moved to an intermediate or a far field range from the host system, the loudspeaker sounds an alert. This audible alert can be used to locate the probe by transmitting a paging signal which, upon reception by the probe, causes the probe to sound its alert. If the probe is moved to an unauthorized location where it is within range of a transmitter or receiver, the reception of a signal by the probe, the transmitter, or receiver will sound an alert signaling the unauthorized presence of the wireless probe.

Abstract: A wireless ultrasound probe has a probe case enclosing a transducer array, an acquisition circuit, a transceiver and a battery. The probe also includes a loudspeaker which produces audible sounds as a function of the range between the wireless probe and a host system. When the probe is within a near field range of the host system, the loudspeaker is silent. But if the probe is moved to an intermediate or a far field range from the host system, the loudspeaker sounds an alert. This audible alert can be used to locate the probe by transmitting a paging signal which, upon reception by the probe, causes the probe to sound its alert. If the probe is moved to an unauthorized location where it is within range of a transmitter or receiver, the reception of a signal by the probe, the transmitter, or receiver will sound an alert signaling the unauthorized presence of the wireless probe.

Abstract: Processes are provided for recovering precious metals from refractory materials using thiosulfate lixiviants. The processes can employ lixiviants that include at most only small amounts of copper and/or ammonia and operate at a relatively low pH, reduction of polythionates, inert atmospheres to control polythionate production, and electrolytic solutions which provide relatively high rates of precious metal recovery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of baking frozen dough pieces using a multi-step baking program that yields a baked product that is essentially indistinguishable from a baked product prepared from freshly prepared non-frozen dough. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a method of baking a frozen dough piece in an oven using a multi-step baking program. The method has a first step of heating the frozen dough piece in an oven comprising a humid atmosphere with a dewpoint of at least 40° C. for a sufficiently long period to completely thaw the exterior of the dough piece to a depth of at least 5 mm, preferably of at least 8 mm, and a subsequent step of baking the dough piece in an oven comprising a dry atmosphere with a temperature of at least 140° C., to obtain a baked product exhibiting a soft crumb and a crispy, browned crust.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a precious metal recovery process in which basic ferric sulphates and/or jarosites are controlled by a number of mechanisms, including control of the oxidation reaction conditions in the first autoclave compartment, hot curing of the autoclave discharge slurry, and/or contacting of the autoclave feed slurry with the hot cured discharge liquid.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process to leach at least one base metal from one or more base metal sulphide feeds comprising the steps of providing a base metal sulphide feed; processing at least a portion of the feed by roasting to reduce the content of sulphur therein to a predetermined sulphur content level; directing some or all of the processed feed with or without some of the unprocessed feed to an oxidative leach step to carry out an oxidative leach step under conditions sufficient to recover at least a portion of the base metal from the feed, the predetermined sulphur content level being selected so as not to exceed that which is required to provide a source of heat for the oxidative leach step and to provide sufficient sulphate to complex the portion of the base metal being recovered

Abstract: A process for recovering cyanide from feed material containing cyanide and copper involves the steps of: (a) contacting the feed material with a strong base anion exchange resin whereby copper and cyanide from the feed material are adsorbed onto the resin; (b) contacting the resulting resin with an eluant solution containing free cyanide ion to elute copper and cyanide from the resin; (c) separating the eluted resin from the eluting solution or eluate from step (b); (d) acidifying the eluate from step (b) to precipitate copper; (e) separating the acidified solution from the precipitate in step (d) and alkalizing directly or after concentration the separated solution containing HCN; (f) contacting the eluted resin from step (b) with an acid to condition the resin and remove additional cyanide while leaving most of the copper in the resin phase; (g) converting the HCN solution formed in step (f) to cyanide ion, directly or after concentration of the HCN solution, by the addition of alkali; and (h) returning the

Abstract: A process for recovering cyanide from feed material containing cyanide and copper involves the steps of: (a) contacting the feed material with a strong base anion exchange resin whereby copper and cyanide from the feed material are adsorbed onto the resin; (b) contacting the resulting resin with an eluant solution containing free cyanide ion to elute copper and cyanide from the resin; (c) separating the eluted resin from the eluting solution or eluate from step (b); (d) acidifying the eluate from step (b) to precipitate copper; (e) separating the acidified solution from the precipitate in step (d) and alkalizing directly or after concentration the separated solution containing HCN; (f) contacting the eluted resin from step (b) with an acid to condition the resin and remove additional cyanide while leaving most of the copper in the resin phase; (g) converting the HCN solution formed in step (f) to cyanide ion, directly or after concentration of the HCN solution, by the addition of alkali; and (h) returning the

Abstract: A method for recovering a precious metal from a host material, comprises the steps of subjecting the host material to an oxidative pressure leach process, in the presence of a halide ion constituent, preferably a chloride ion, which is reactive with the precious metal, and at an elevated temperature of at least 170° C. to cause at least a portion of the precious metal to be extracted by a leach solution in the form of a precious metal-bearing chloride complex, and recovering the precious metal from the leach solution.

Abstract: Briefly stated, there is provided a method for reducing cyanide consumption in precious metals mining extraction processes involving a sulfur bearing ore body, comprising the steps of providing a precious metal bearing material having intermediate sulfur oxidation products, and exposing the material to sulfur dioxide gas, bisulfite ions or sulfite ions, in a manner to cause at least a portion of the intermediate sulfur oxidation products to be rendered unreactive with cyanide.

Abstract: A process for recovering gold from thiosulfate leach solutions and slurries in which gold is loaded into an ion exchange resin. Gold is recovered from the resin by elution with polythionate ions and the resin is regenerated with sulfide or sulfite. Gold is recovered from the eluate by precipitation with sulfide ions, cementation or electrowinning. The invention also provides for a process of manufacturing polythionate ion solutions suitable for eluting gold from ion exchange resins.