Abstract: A process for optimising the removal of calcium from a hydrocarbon feedstock in a refinery desalting process, the refinery desalting process comprising the following steps: (a) mixing one or more wash water streams with one or more hydrocarbon feedstock streams; (b) at least partially separating the wash water from the hydrocarbons in a refinery desalter; and (c) removing the separated water and hydrocarbons from the refinery desalter as one or more desalted hydrocarbon streams and one or more effluent water streams; the process optimisation comprising: (i) providing at least one x-ray fluorescence analyser at at least one point in the refinery desalting process; (ii) measuring the concentration of calcium at the at least one point in the process using the at least one x-ray fluorescence analyser; and (iii) optionally adjusting at least one process condition of the refinery desalting process in response to the calcium concentration measurement in step (ii).

Abstract: A method comprises correlating—in a system which comprises a non-aqueous phase comprising a hydrocarbon fluid, and an aqueous phase—partitioning levels of a basic contaminant and/or an acid of interest into the aqueous phase with the pH of the aqueous phase. The partitioning levels of the basic contaminant and the acid of interest, as well as the pH of the aqueous phase, are obtained under conditions which are representative of those used in a partitioning process in which a basic contaminant is removed from a hydrocarbon fluid. The correlations may be used in a method for selecting an acidic environment for use in a partitioning process, for estimating corrosion risk downstream of a partitioning process, or for controlling a partitioning process.

Abstract: A process for optimising the removal of calcium from a hydrocarbon feedstock in a refinery desalting process, the refinery desalting process comprising the following steps: (a) mixing one or more wash water streams with one or more hydrocarbon feedstock streams; (b) at least partially separating the wash water from the hydrocarbons in a refinery desalter; and (c) removing the separated water and hydrocarbons from the refinery desalter as one or more desalted hydrocarbon streams and one or more effluent water streams; the process optimisation comprising: (i) providing at least one x-ray fluorescence analyser at at least one point in the refinery desalting process; (ii) measuring the concentration of calcium at the at least one point in the process using the at least one x-ray fluorescence analyser; and (iii) optionally adjusting at least one process condition of the refinery desalting process in response to the calcium concentration measurement in step (ii).

Abstract: A process for analyzing a hydrocarbon stream comprises: withdrawing a hydrocarbon sample from a hydrocarbon stream; passing the hydrocarbon sample to an analysis device at a target temperature of greater than 120° C. and a target flow rate of greater than 20 liters per minute; and returning the hydrocarbon sample to the hydrocarbon stream. The process may be used for the on-line analysis of crude oil, in order to optimize a refinery operation.

Abstract: A method for optimizing a desalting process in which a hydrocarbon feedstock is passed to a desalter through a line under a set of conditions, the hydrocarbon feedstock containing a hydrocarbon fluid, water and a salt, said method comprising: obtaining spectra of the hydrocarbon feedstock under a plurality of environments in the line; comparing the spectra; and based on the comparison of the spectra, either modifying or maintaining the set of conditions under which the hydrocarbon feedstock is passed to the desalter; wherein the spectra are obtained using neutron backscattering.

Abstract: A method comprises correlating—in a system which comprises a non-aqueous phase comprising a hydrocarbon fluid, and an aqueous phase—partitioning levels of a basic contaminant and/or an acid of interest into the aqueous phase with the pH of the aqueous phase. The partitioning levels of the basic contaminant and the acid of interest, as well as the pH of the aqueous phase, are obtained under conditions which are representative of those used in a partitioning process in which a basic contaminant is removed from a hydrocarbon fluid. The correlations may be used in a method for selecting an acidic environment for use in a partitioning process, for estimating corrosion risk downstream of a partitioning process, or for controlling a partitioning process.

Abstract: A process for analysing a hydrocarbon stream comprises: withdrawing a hydrocarbon sample from a hydrocarbon stream; passing the hydrocarbon sample to an analysis device at a target temperature of greater than 120° C. and a target flow rate of greater than 20 litres per minute; and returning the hydrocarbon sample to the hydrocarbon stream. The process may be used for the on-line analysis of crude oil, in order to optimise a refinery operation.

Abstract: A method for filtered peer-to-peer business communication in a distributed computer environment includes accessing offers associated with one or more offerors and requests associated with one or more requesters, each offer and each request including a set of filter components. Filter components of offers are compared with corresponding filter components of requests to determine whether one or more offers match one or more requests. A match is determined between an offer and a request if the filter components of the offer match the corresponding filter components of the request. In response, at least a matching portion of the offer and request is replicated and communicated to both the offeror associated with the offer and the requestor associated with the request to provide filtered peer-to-peer communication between the offeror and requestor.

Abstract: The present invention is a mechanical oscillator metal loss sensor for use in a corrosive or erosive environment. The elements include a means for mechanical excitation, and a mechanical oscillator with two regions that corrode differently, where the regions are determined to affect specific influences on the resonance parameters, wherein said mechanical oscillator has a resonant frequency, f, and a quality factor, Q. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanical oscillator has the shape of a tuning fork.

Abstract: The present invention is a method to determine the composition of a hydrocarbon feedstream from a small sample of hydrocarbons including the steps analyzing the sample with a combination of chromatograph and mass spectrometer, and reconciling output from step a) with other analytical measurements to determine to determine the composition of the hydrocarbon feedstream.

Abstract: An application-driven scheduling system (10) includes a scheduling engine (18) that receives at least one schedule item (34) and associated time information from at least one application (12). The scheduling engine (18) determines whether the time information for the item (34) satisfies one or more schedule criteria and, if so, determines a location (44) for the item (34) within a schedule (30) according to the time information. The scheduling engine (18) generates the schedule (30) containing the item (34) and a rendering engine (20) renders the schedule (30) for display to at least one user (14). The schedule (30) may include one or more cells (38), with the location (44) for the item (44) being in a particular cell (38), the scheduling engine (18) determining the location (44) for the item (34) within the cell (38) according to the time information based on a percentage of the width (42) of the cell (38).

Abstract: An absorbent article having an absorbent structure sized and configured for insertion at least partially within the vestibule of a female wearer. The absorbent structure has a saturation capacity as determined by a Saturation Capacity and Retention Capacity Test of at least about 15 grams/gram, a retention capacity as determined by the Saturation Capacity and Retention Capacity Test of at least about 3 grams/gram, and an intake time for a first insult of the absorbent structure as determined by an Intake and Rewet Test of no more than about 30 seconds.

Abstract: Absorbent articles comprising superabsorbent particles having an increased surface area to volume ratio are disclosed. The superabsorbent particles comprising the absorbent articles are in flake-like form, and have an average surface area to volume ratio of at least about 0.05 ?m?1. In one specific embodiment, the high surface area to volume superabsorbent particles have an average thickness of no more than about 30 micrometers.

Abstract: A method for filtered peer-to-peer business communication in a distributed computer environment includes accessing offers associated with one or more offerors and requests associated with one or more requestors, each offer and each request including a set of filter components. Filter components of offers are compared with corresponding filter components of requests to determine whether one or more offers match one or more requests. A match is determined between an offer and a request if the filter components of the offer match the corresponding filter components of the request. In response, at least a matching portion of the offer and request is replicated and communicated to both the offeror associated with the offer and the requestor associated with the request to provide filtered peer-to-peer communication between the offeror and requestor.