Abstract: A novel method for automated extraction of crawfish tail meat comprises placing cooked crawfish on a tray having a bottom slot, applying a downward pressure to the cooked crawfish, extending a rotating brush through the bottom slot to urge the cooked crawfish into a horizontally exposed position, extending a rotating blade through the bottom slot to an incision, then applying a vacuum force to the bottom slot simultaneous to an increase in the downward pressure, causing the cooked crawfish to bulge and the tail meat to be extracted through the slot, after which the carcass is ejected. A plurality of trays can either be rotated in a circular path or conveyed along a linear path above the various tools as cooked crawfish are loaded and carcasses are ejected.

Abstract: A polymer breaking solution usable in fracking and other downhole applications comprises a solution of aqueous hydrogen peroxide, an anionic surfactant, a metal chelating agent, an acidic pH buffer, a soluble zinc compound, and in some embodiments, a viscosifying agent. In other embodiments, the solution may additionally comprise a linear hydrophobic surfactant. At treatment concentrations of between 500 ppm to 1,500 ppm, the solution is non-toxic and usable at a wide range of downhole temperatures (32° C. to 82° C.).

Abstract: A clay control additive for wellbore fluids comprises a blended starch polymer solution comprising a quarternary amine-functionalized starch polymer. The polymer is preferably cationized to a degree of substitution of at least 0.30. The starches may be synthetic or blended from natural amylose cationic starches. In an embodiment, a further additive comprises cactus mucilage obtained from the Opuntia genus, which may be combined with the starch polymer in a 1 to 95% solution. In another embodiment, both the starch and the mucilage may be further combined with conventional additives (e.g., choline chloride) to further enhance the clay control properties.

Abstract: A clay control additive for wellbore fluids comprises a blended starch polymer solution comprising a quarternary amine-functionalized starch polymer. The polymer is preferably cationized to a degree of substitution of at least 0.30. The starches may be synthetic or blended from natural amylose cationic starches. In an embodiment, a further additive comprises cactus mucilage obtained from the Opuntia genus, which may be combined with the starch polymer in a 1 to 95% solution. In another embodiment, both the starch and the mucilage may be further combined with conventional additives (e.g., choline chloride) to further enhance the clay control properties.

Abstract: Systems and methods include using a fracture fluid downhole for fracturing a formation. The method includes providing an aqueous solution comprising dissolved solids at a certain ionic strength, and adding a proppant to create a fracture fluid. The method continues by adding a polymeric additive and a surfactant to the fracture fluid, wherein the polymeric additive comprises friction reducing capabilities that can be decreased by the ionic strength present in the fracture fluid (i.e., ionic strength originally found in the water). The addition of the polymeric additive and the surfactant to the fracture fluid creates an enhanced fracture fluid, wherein the surfactant increases the performance of the friction reducing capabilities of the polymeric additive in the enhanced fracture fluid, which provides a more efficient fracturing operation. The method concludes by pumping the enhanced fracture fluid downhole for a more efficient fracture of the formation.

Abstract: Systems and methods include using a fracture fluid downhole for fracturing a formation. The method includes providing an aqueous solution comprising dissolved solids at a certain ionic strength, and adding a proppant to create a fracture fluid. The method continues by adding a polymeric additive and a surfactant to the fracture fluid, wherein the polymeric additive comprises friction reducing capabilities that can be decreased by the ionic strength present in the fracture fluid (i.e., ionic strength originally found in the water). The addition of the polymeric additive and the surfactant to the fracture fluid creates an enhanced fracture fluid, wherein the surfactant increases the performance of the friction reducing capabilities of the polymeric additive in the enhanced fracture fluid, which provides a more efficient fracturing operation. The method concludes by pumping the enhanced fracture fluid downhole for a more efficient fracture of the formation.

Abstract: A system and method of continuous production of methanol is disclosed utilizing enriched syngas and a homogenous liquid catalyst comprising an organo-nickel compound, an ether solvent, and an organic methoxide salt. The syngas is directed into a reaction chamber in such a way as to maximize the gas-liquid interface (e.g., an eductor nozzle or bubble column) while two condensers receive tail gas and reactant fluid from the reaction chamber, the latter after undergoing flash separation. Liquid catalyst is recovered and recycled back into the system via the second condenser.

Abstract: A system and method of continuous production of methanol is disclosed utilizing enriched syngas and a homogenous liquid catalyst comprising an organo-nickel compound, an ether solvent, and an organic methoxide salt. The syngas is directed into a reaction chamber in such a way as to maximize the gas-liquid interface (e.g., an eductor nozzle or bubble column) while two condensers receive tail gas and reactant fluid from the reaction chamber, the latter after undergoing flash separation. Liquid catalyst is recovered and recycled back into the system via the second condenser.

Abstract: An improved system and method for fluidizing dry powder-based additives into downhole well operations utilizes a dried, low-volume air stream and an ejector nozzle in order to disperse the powders into a liquid stream. In an embodiment, the system can be placed on a powder blending trailer in order to convey additives directly from bulk transport bins into a liquid stream, through the use of an atmospheric pressure hydration tank fitted with a cyclone separator to ensure an even dispersal into the liquid stream.

Abstract: A process for continuous, on-demand production of dilute acrolein liquid on-site, at or near the point of acrolein injection, by the liquid dehydration of glycerol in an improved tubular reactor where non-aqueous glycerol is combined with a heteropolyacid catalyst, including silicotungstic acid, phosphotungstic acid, or phosphomolybdic acid. The acid catalyst is evenly dissolved and dispersed in the glycerol upstream of the reactor vessel. The reaction is conducted in a tubular reactor which is heated to an elevated reaction temperature. The dilute acrolein produced in the tubular reactor is directed downstream, optionally through a liquid-liquid heat exchanger and then an air-liquid heat exchanger to reduce temperature, and then diluted prior to being injected into sulfide contaminated systems (such as oil & gas water floods, water disposal systems, producing oil wells, and fuel oil storage) via a pressure conduit.

Abstract: The present invention is a device and a method that combines a carbon disulfide-releasing chemical with a low pH organic or inorganic acid to produce a carbon disulfide-containing fluid at or near the point of injection that minimizes or eliminates the possible exposure of carbon disulfide to workers and the environment. In one particular embodiment a positive displacement injection pump injects the carbon disulfide-containing fluid into a crude oil system for treating crude oil transmission lines and in downhole tubulars to remove paraffin deposits. The device uses a unique in-line motion mixer to mix two fluids. The device is electronically controlled locally and remotely with the system operating data displayed locally and transmitted remotely. The paraffin treating carbon disulfide-containing fluid and supplemental chemicals dissolve, disperse and remove paraffin deposits.

Abstract: An improved system and method for fluidizing dry powder-based additives into downhole well operations utilizes a dried, low-volume air stream and an ejector nozzle in order to disperse the powders into a liquid stream. In an embodiment, the system can be placed on a powder blending trailer in order to convey additives directly from bulk transport bins into a liquid stream, through the use of an atmospheric pressure hydration tank fitted with a cyclone separator to ensure an even dispersal into the liquid stream.

Abstract: A process for continuous, on-demand production of dilute acrolein liquid on-site, at or near the point of acrolein injection, by the liquid dehydration of glycerol in an improved tubular reactor where non-aqueous glycerol is combined with a heteropolyacid catalyst, including silicotungstic acid, phosphotungstic acid, or phosphomolybdic acid. The acid catalyst is evenly dissolved and dispersed in the glycerol upstream of the reactor vessel. The reaction is conducted in a tubular reactor which is heated to an elevated reaction temperature. The dilute acrolein produced in the tubular reactor is directed downstream, optionally through a liquid-liquid heat exchanger and then an air-liquid heat exchanger to reduce temperature, and then diluted prior to being injected into sulfide contaminated systems (such as oil & gas water floods, water disposal systems, producing oil wells, and fuel oil storage) via a pressure conduit.

Abstract: The present invention is a device and a method that combines a carbon disulfide-releasing chemical with a low pH organic or inorganic acid to produce a carbon disulfide-containing fluid at or near the point of injection that minimizes or eliminates the possible exposure of carbon disulfide to workers and the environment. In one particular embodiment a positive displacement injection pump injects the carbon disulfide-containing fluid into a crude oil system for treating crude oil transmission lines and in downhole tubulars to remove paraffin deposits. The device uses a unique in-line motion mixer to mix two fluids. The device is electronically controlled locally and remotely with the system operating data displayed locally and transmitted remotely. The paraffin treating carbon disulfide-containing fluid and supplemental chemicals dissolve, disperse and remove paraffin deposits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to catalyst beds and, more particularly, regeneration of the catalyst by contacting the catalyst bed with nitrogen-rich gas, such as, air. The catalyst beds are typically positioned within a reactor vessel, such as, fixed-bed catalyst reactors. The catalyst bed serves as a solid support upon which chemical react. As a result of operation of the reactors, over a period of time, solid matter deposits on at least a portion of the catalyst bed causing reduced activity of the catalyst. Thus, the catalyst regeneration systems and methods of the invention provide the ability to provide continued effectiveness of the catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for treating produced water with acrolein and, in particular, with an acrolein composition or water stream that is composed of less than pure or less than substantially pure acrolein. The systems and methods are portable such that the water treatment can be conducted on-site where the water to be treated is located.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an iron complexing mixture and method of using same wherein beneficial performance and natural gas pipeline cleaning methods are employed. The synergistic improvement of combining two water-soluble metal complexing agents, THPS and IDS, prove to offer advantages in performance over the individual use of either chemical.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an iron complexing mixture and method of using same wherein beneficial performance and natural gas pipeline cleaning methods are employed. The synergistic improvement of combining two water-soluble metal complexing agents, THPS and IDS, prove to offer advantages in performance over the individual use of either chemical.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an iron complexing mixture and method of using same wherein beneficial performance and natural gas pipeline cleaning methods are employed. The synergistic improvement of combining two water-soluble metal complexing agents, THPS and IDS, prove to offer advantages in performance over the individual use of either chemical.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an iron complexing mixture and method of using same wherein beneficial performance and natural gas pipeline cleaning methods are employed. The synergistic improvement of combining two water-soluble metal complexing agents, THPS and IDS, prove to offer advantages in performance over the individual use of either chemical.