Abstract: Provided herein are methods for inhibiting the formation of scale on equipment in contact with a produced fluid containing a scale-forming divalent cation. Such methods can comprise adding an activated alginate to the produced fluid in an amount effective to react with the divalent cation in the produced fluid to form an activated alginate complex; and separating the activated alginate complex from the produced fluid. Methods can further comprise recycling the activated alginate from the activated alginate complex by dissolving the activated alginate complex. The activated alginate can be prepared by thermally modifying an alginate precursor at a temperature of from 80° C. to 180° C. for a period of at least 24 hours. The activated alginate can be in the form of a solution including 0.1% to 10% by weight activated alginate, based on the total weight of the solution.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the formation, deposition and adherence of scale to metallic and other surfaces in the equipment, vessels and/or piping of facilities for the handling of oil and gas produced fluid is disclosed. An effective scale inhibiting amount of alginate is added to a produced fluid containing a scale-forming divalent cation. The alginate effectively cross-links with a scale-forming divalent cation, e.g., calcium, forming an alginate gel for subsequent separation and removal from the produced fluid.

Abstract: Method and system for separation of produced water into a water fraction, a solids fraction and a hydrocarbon fraction, comprising feeding produced water into a collapsible flexible bag maintained subsea by a protection structure; operating the flexible bag at an overpressure and thereby providing a predefined geometry of the flexible bag; maintaining the produced water in the flexible bag to allow for gravitational separation of the solids fraction with a higher density than water in a lower section and optionally separation of the hydrocarbon fraction with a lower density than water in an upper section; removing the water fraction from a section above the lower section; optionally removing hydrocarbons from the upper section and replacing the flexible bag to remove the solids fraction.

Abstract: A method for analysis of hydrocarbons in water, the method comprising the steps of: extracting the hydrocarbons from a water sample; introducing the extracted hydrocarbons to a solvent system; determining the relative concentrations of the hydrocarbons in the solvent system and at least one solvent in the solvent system by 1H NMR analysis, wherein the solvent system comprises at least one solvent with a 1H NMR signal distinguishable from a 1H NMR signal of the hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the formation, deposition and adherence of scale to metallic and other surfaces in the equipment, vessels and/or piping of facilities for the handling of oil and gas produced fluid is disclosed. An effective scale inhibiting amount of alginate is added to a produced fluid containing a scale-forming divalent cation. The alginate effectively cross-links with a scale-forming divalent cation, e.g., calcium, forming an alginate gel for subsequent separation and removal from the produced fluid.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the formation, deposition and adherence of scale to metallic and other surfaces in the equipment, vessels and/or piping of facilities for the handling of oil and gas produced fluid is disclosed. An effective scale inhibiting amount of alginate is added to a produced fluid containing a scale-forming divalent cation. The alginate effectively cross-links with a scale-forming divalent cation, e.g., calcium, forming an alginate gel for subsequent separation and removal from the produced fluid.

Abstract: A method for analysis of hydrocarbons in water, the method comprising the steps of: extracting the hydrocarbons from a water sample; introducing the extracted hydrocarbons to a solvent system; determining the relative concentrations of the hydrocarbons in the solvent system and at least one solvent in the solvent system by 1H NMR analysis, wherein the solvent system comprises at least one solvent with a 1H NMR signal distinguishable from a 1H NMR signal of the hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A subsea storage unit (SSU) with a flexible bag (flexible bladder or expandable skin) is used for produced water storage. The use of the SSU allows the solids to settle out in the storage vessel that would otherwise have settled out and accumulated on underwater surfaces, removal of hydrocarbons and the smoothing out of variations in water quality resulting from process upsets. Solids that remain in suspension and exit the SSU will then disperse without any appreciable settlement to be completely dispersed. Accumulated solids can be retrieved with the expandable skin, which can then be replaced for continued service.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the formation, deposition and adherence of scale to metallic and other surfaces in the equipment, vessels and/or piping of facilities for the handling of oil and gas produced fluid is disclosed. An effective scale inhibiting amount of alginate is added to a produced fluid containing a scale-forming divalent cation. The alginate effectively cross-links with a scale-forming divalent cation, e.g., calcium, forming an alginate gel for subsequent separation and removal from the produced fluid.

Abstract: Described herein is an underwater vehicle having a vehicle body with a buoyancy controller adapted to vary the buoyancy of the vehicle in order to control motion of the vehicle through an underwater environment. The vehicle further includes a sampling system and a sensor arrangement. The sampling system is adapted to sequentially sample fluid from the underwater environment at specified sampling times resulting in a sample sequence, each sample associated with a sample time and a fluid flow rate. The sensor arrangement includes a plurality of molecule sensors adapted to sense organic molecules in each respective sample of the sample sequence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sorption-based sensing system for sensing multiple selected species in a fluid. In one aspect, the sensing system comprises an optical conduit for guiding light from an input end to an output end, a detector for detecting at least one feature of the light at the output end associated with the optical characteristic, and an analyzer for determining at least one attribute of at least one of the multiple selected species in the fluid based on the detected feature. The optical conduit includes a sorptive portion having a set of different sorption properties associated with the multiple selected species. The sorptive portion is adapted to be positioned in the fluid to reversibly sorb at least one of the multiple selected species to vary an optical characteristic of the sorptive portion. In another aspect, there is provided a corresponding method for operating the sensing system.

Abstract: Described herein is an underwater vehicle having a vehicle body with a buoyancy controller adapted to vary the buoyancy of the vehicle in order to control motion of the vehicle through an underwater environment. The vehicle further includes a sampling system and a sensor arrangement. The sampling system is adapted to sequentially sample fluid from the underwater environment at specified sampling times resulting in a sample sequence, each sample associated with a sample time and a fluid flow rate. The sensor arrangement includes a plurality of molecule sensors adapted to sense organic molecules in each respective sample of the sample sequence.

Abstract: A process for reducing the carbon oxide content in natural gas, by producing a carbon oxide containing natural gas from a geological formation through a natural gas delivery system; providing a reaction zone containing at least one catalyst suitable for hydrocarbon conversion in the natural gas delivery system; introducing hydrogen into the carbon oxide containing natural gas to form a reaction mixture; and passing the reaction mixture to the catalyst in the reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the carbon oxides in the natural gas to hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for reducing the carbon oxide content in natural gas, by producing a carbon oxide containing natural gas from a geological formation through a natural gas delivery system; providing a reaction zone containing at least one catalyst suitable for hydrocarbon conversion in the natural gas delivery system; introducing hydrogen into the carbon oxide containing natural gas to form a reaction mixture; and passing the reaction mixture to the catalyst in the reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the carbon oxides in the natural gas to hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for reducing the carbon oxide content in natural gas, by producing a carbon oxide containing natural gas from a geological formation through a natural gas delivery system; providing a reaction zone containing at least one catalyst suitable for hydrocarbon conversion in the natural gas delivery system; introducing hydrogen into the carbon oxide containing natural gas to form a reaction mixture; and passing the reaction mixture to the catalyst in the reaction zone to convert at least a portion of the carbon oxides in the natural gas to hydrocarbons.