Abstract: Methods and apparatus for promoting the production of oil and/or gas from organic carbon-rich sedimentary rocks in a subterranean formation. Aspects of the method comprise detecting hydrogen starvation in the formation and remedying the hydrogen starvation.

Abstract: Methods for producing in a reactor natural gas from heavy hydrocarbons. A mixture of heavy hydrocarbons and a catalyst comprising a transition metal are heated under an anoxic condition in a reactor. Natural gas, e.g., catalytic natural gas, is generated from the heavy hydrocarbons by a disproportionation reaction promoted by the catalyst. The anoxic condition can be created by flowing an anoxic stimulation gas in the reactor.

Abstract: A method of producing natural gas from a heavy hydrocarbon-containing subterranean formation includes: placing a catalyst comprising a transition metal into the formation, injecting an anoxic stimulation gas into the formation, and collecting the natural gas generated in the formation. The method may be performed outside the context of a subterranean formation under controlled conditions. Thus, a method of producing natural gas from bitumen includes: providing an anoxic mixture of heavy hydrocarbons and a catalyst having a transition metal, adding an anoxic stimulation gas to the mixture, and heating the mixture in the presence of the stimulation gas.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for promoting the production of oil and/or gas from organic carbon-rich sedimentary rocks in a surface reactor processing facility. The method includes applying a light hydrocarbon gas to the sedimentary rock in the reactor vessel to increase the yield of the oil and/or gas that is generated by the natural catalytic activity of the sedimentary rock.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for promoting the production of oil and/or gas from organic carbon-rich sedimentary rocks in a subterranean formation. Aspects of the method comprise detecting hydrogen starvation in the formation and remedying the hydrogen starvation.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to assaying rock samples (e.g., core samples) for the presence of catalytically-generated gases, such as methane for example. According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a method for assaying a rock sample comprises sealing a carbonaceous rock sample in a container having an atmosphere and assaying for a quantity of catalytically-generated gas in the sealed container. The method may comprise generating the catalytically-generated gas in response to a catalytic reaction between the carbonaceous material in the carbonaceous rock sample and a low-valent transition metal that is present in the carbonaceous rock sample. The catalytic reaction may occur in a static atmosphere of the sealed container.

Abstract: Methods for producing in a reactor natural gas from heavy hydrocarbons. A mixture of heavy hydrocarbons and a catalyst comprising a transition metal are heated under an anoxic condition in a reactor. Natural gas, e.g., catalytic natural gas, is generated from the heavy hydrocarbons by a disproportionation reaction promoted by the catalyst. The anoxic condition can be created by flowing an anoxic stimulation gas in the reactor.

Abstract: A method of producing natural gas from a heavy hydrocarbon-containing subterranean formation includes: placing a catalyst having at least one transition metal into the formation, injecting an anoxic stimulation gas into the formation, and collecting the natural gas generated in the formation. The method may be performed outside the context of a subterranean formation under controlled conditions. Thus, a method of producing natural gas from bitumen includes: providing an anoxic mixture of heavy hydrocarbons and a catalyst having at least one transition metal, adding an anoxic stimulation gas to the mixture, and heating the mixture in the presence of the stimulation gas.

Abstract: A method of producing natural gas from a heavy hydrocarbon-containing subterranean formation includes: placing a catalyst comprising a transition metal into the formation, injecting an anoxic stimulation gas into the formation, and collecting the natural gas generated in the formation. The method may be performed outside the context of a subterranean formation under controlled conditions. Thus, a method of producing natural gas from bitumen includes: providing an anoxic mixture of heavy hydrocarbons and a catalyst having a transition metal, adding an anoxic stimulation gas to the mixture, and heating the mixture in the presence of the stimulation gas.

Abstract: A method of producing natural gas from a heavy hydrocarbon-containing subterranean formation includes: placing a catalyst having at least one transition metal into the formation, injecting an anoxic stimulation gas into the formation, and collecting the natural gas generated in the formation. The method may be performed outside the context of a subterranean formation under controlled conditions. Thus, a method of producing natural gas from bitumen includes: providing an anoxic mixture of heavy hydrocarbons and a catalyst having at least one transition metal, adding an anoxic stimulation gas to the mixture, and heating the mixture in the presence of the stimulation gas.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel assays for zero-valent transition metals. The novel assays of the present invention are generally methods or processes for quantitatively and/or qualitatively evaluating the presence of zero-valent transition metals on and/or within samples. Such assays generally involve a digestion process whereby the sample is exposed to carbon monoxide. Transition metals, if present in or on the sample and if contacted by the carbon monoxide, are extracted by the carbon monoxide as metal carbonyl species, the presence of which confirms the presence of transition metals. Such novel assays have enormous predictive power in oil and gas exploration.

Abstract: A method of producing natural gas from a heavy hydrocarbon-containing subterranean formation includes: placing a catalyst having at least one transition metal into the formation, injecting an anoxic stimulation gas into the formation, and collecting the natural gas generated in the formation. The method may be performed outside the context of a subterranean formation under controlled conditions. Thus, a method of producing natural gas from bitumen includes: providing an anoxic mixture of heavy hydrocarbons and a catalyst having at least one transition metal, adding an anoxic stimulation gas to the mixture, and heating the mixture in the presence of the stimulation gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to assays for ascribing catalytic activity to rock samples by virtue of zero-valent transition metals potentially being present within the sample. Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to novel assays for measuring intrinsic paleocatalytic activities (k) of sedimentary rocks for converting oil to gas and projecting the activities to the subsurface based on the measured linear relationship between ln(k) and temperature (T).

Abstract: A reinforced polymer composition comprising an epoxy resin matrix having intimately distributed therein, as the reinforcing component, a particulate or filamentary silicate or aluminosilicate mineral modified, prior to being admixed with matrix resin, by having a layer of an organic isocyanate chemically bonded to its surface by covalent bonding.

Abstract: A novel process for making 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and corresponding oligomer in improved selectivity and yield comprises condensing formaldehyde and aniline under neutral or basic conditions to yield an anil condensate, followed by reacting the anil condensate with additional aniline and a protonic salt of aniline to yield 4,4'-methylene dianiline and corresponding oligomer, then followed by conventional phosgenation.

Abstract: A process for the production of 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (4,4'-MDI) to the substantial exclusion of other position isomers and of higher oligomers comprises a coupling reaction in which formaldehyde is condensed with an N-phenyl alkylcarbamate under mild conditions to produce the dialkyl carbamate of 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, and a catalytic exchange reaction in which the latter is reacted with phenyl isocyanate to produce with extremely high selectivity 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate as product and N-phenyl alkylcarbamate which is recycled to the coupling reaction. In the overall process, formaldehyde and phenyl isocyanate are selectively converted to 4,4'-MDI. By substituting a higher aldehyde or a ketone for formaldehyde, the process may also be employed to produce other 4,4'-alkylidene diphenyl diisocyanates.