Abstract: Embodiments of the instant disclosure relate to a delivery vehicle for site-specific and function-specific precision delivery of sub-micron cargo for petroleum recovery. The delivery vehicle includes an outer shell, inner core, channel, functional cargo, and stimulus-responsive polymer. The delivery vehicle is configured to be mixed with a dispersion fluid and injected into a subterranean residual oil zone. The outer shell is negatively charged and includes graphene sheets interlocked together in a manner to form a spherical structure. The channel traverses the outer shell and terminates at the inner core. The functional cargo absorbs petroleum. The stimulus-responsive polymer is externally positioned on the outer shell and is functionally coupled to and selectively blocks the channel. The stimulus-responsive polymer is configured to unblock the channel when a stimulus is received and thereby allows release of the functional cargo from the inner core via the channel into the subterranean residual oil zone.

Abstract: A well stimulation method based on a self-dispersible and non-surface functionalized dispersion fluid to recover hydrocarbons from subterranean formation in conventional and non-conventional mode is described and claimed. The method includes introducing a self-dispersible, non-functionalized, three-dimensional (3D) crumpled graphene balls/structures into a water slug, a gas slug, a liquefied gas slug, a natural gas liquid slug, or a diesel slug. The resulting fluid containing self-dispersible, 3D crumpled structures is introduced into the subterranean hydrocarbon bearing formation. The said self-dispersion fluid may also contain a cocktail based on varying degree of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of 3D crumpled graphene balls, where the role of 3D hydrophilic crumpled graphene balls is to keep dispersion stable whereas, the role of hydrophobic 3D crumpled graphene balls is to interact with hydrocarbons and thus stimulating their dislodging or desorption from the rocks of subterranean hydrocarbon formation.

Abstract: A simpler and lower-cost method and associated hardware are described for recovering biopharmaceutical products from cell factories in higher yields by a liquid nitrogen-based pre-treatment of cell factories followed by gentler disintegration of cellular factories by tunable, pressurizing and de-pressurizing cycle with gaseous nitrogen. The cell factories are heterologous expression systems and could be based on plant cells, mammalian cells, algal cells, yeast cells or even bacterial cells. The pre-treatment step with liquid nitrogen softens the tougher cell wall structures thus enabling cells to be disrupted relatively easily during the gaseous nitrogen-based pressurizing/depressurizing cycle. This invention can enhance the yield of biopharmaceutical products from expression systems and reduce the overall cycle-time and further down-stream processing and polishing cost of biopharmaceutical products.

Abstract: A method for treating wastewater containing organic contaminants is disclosed. Wastewater containing organic contaminants is fed into an outer pipe of a pipe-in-pipe assembly, wherein the outer pipe concentrically surrounds an inner pipe. Oxygen is fed into the inner pipe which is rotatably mounted and is provided with openings, thereby to provide different sizes of oxygen bubbles to the outer pipe. The oxygen is dispersed into an annular portion between the outer pipe and the inner pipe thereby contacting the wastewater with oxygen; and the thus treated wastewater is collected. The inner pipe may be a tunable membrane material, and the outer pipe may have a biocatalyst material present on its inner surface.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon well remediation/stimulation treatment based on an Y-Grade natural gas liquid injection fluid mixture, including prescribed amounts of gas, nanoparticles with wettability alteration properties, foaming agents (including nanoparticles with foam stabilization properties), and solvent additives. The fluid mixture may be tuned to address multiple factors contributing to production decline, such as liquid blockage, wettability properties, fines/debris/scale build-up and organic deposits, reservoir heterogeneity/permeability, and/or reservoir fluid and hydrocarbon compositions, resulting in hydrocarbon production enhancement. The treatment is typically applied with a Huff-n-Puff process, however may also be applied with a flooding process.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting corrosion in pipelines for transporting oil and gas is described. A nano-machine is fed along with an inert gas to the pipeline to deliver a corrosion inhibitor which is chemically bonded to the nano-machine. The nano-machine is made by attaching a corrosion inhibitor to a nanoparticle by way of a covalent bond. When the nano-machine encounters a source of corrosion in the pipeline, the corrosion inhibitor is released to treat the corrosion.

Abstract: A process of stimulating hydrocarbon recovery is described and claimed. This process includes introducing a gas, a liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas, into an underground formation containing hydrocarbons such as crude oil and gas, permitting said gas to be absorbed by said hydrocarbons, and withdrawing said hydrocarbons containing the gas therein, wherein a pill of Hydrocarbon Recovery Fluid comprising surface functionalized nanoparticles is inserted into the underground formation containing hydrocarbons before, during or after the introduction of the gas, liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing the density of a foamed mixture for fracturing subterranean formations. The foamed mixture is formed by adding particles to a Y-Grade material before combing with the inert gas.

Abstract: A method for the enhanced recovery of oil from a hydrocarbon-containing reservoir is disclosed. A mixture of Y-Grade materials, nitrogen and a cross-linking agent is fed to the hydrocarbon-containing reservoir either as a mixture or in the form of a foam. The cross-linking agent such as high molecular weight polyethylene will assist in increasing the viscosity of the mixture of Y-Grade materials and nitrogen and assist in providing improved performance at oil recovery in the reservoir.

Abstract: A method for detecting leaks in pipelines, particularly those transporting natural gas is disclosed. Leak sensitive particles are added either as soluble particles or in a nitrogen atmosphere which will transmit signals to an appropriate sensor when a leak condition is detected. The sensors can be located along the length of the pipeline or in a pig that will be transported through the pipeline along with the leak sensitive particles.

Abstract: A method for leak detection of a packaged sealed product according to the steps: feeding liquid nitrogen to a vaporizer thereby forming gaseous nitrogen; mixing the gaseous nitrogen with multifunctional particles; feeding the mixture of gaseous nitrogen and multifunctional particles to a chamber wherein a packaged sealed product is present in the chamber; and transmitting a signal when the multifunctional particles contact a component leaking from the packaged sealed product. Typically, the packaged sealed product is a pharmaceutical or other medicinal product.

Abstract: A method for separating two or more different gases that are being transported in a pipeline is described. A slug of inert gas, particularly nitrogen is introduced between the two or more different gases to replace the isolators that have been traditionally used. This slug of inert gas will assist in more efficiently transporting the gas while reducing the problems associated with isolators. There is further disclosed a method for separating and transporting at least two liquid products such as two different crudes or diesel and gasoline in a pipeline.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon well remediation/stimulation treatment based on an Y-Grade natural gas liquid injection fluid mixture, including prescribed amounts of gas, nanoparticles with wettability alteration properties, foaming agents (including nanoparticles with foam stabilization properties), and solvent additives. The fluid mixture may be tuned to address multiple factors contributing to production decline, such as liquid blockage, wettability properties, fines/debris/scale build-up and organic deposits, reservoir heterogeneity/permeability, and/or reservoir fluid and hydrocarbon compositions, resulting in hydrocarbon production enhancement. The treatment is typically applied with a Huff-n-Puff process, however may also be applied with a flooding process.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and detecting leaks in a pipeline is disclosed. The method is particularly useful in pipelines that are transporting hydrocarbons. Gas enabled photo sensitive particles are fed into the pipeline and when they encounter a leak, change their condition. This change is captured by a detector which transmits the data to an operator that a leak condition exists as well as its location and intensity.

Abstract: A process of stimulating hydrocarbon recovery is described and claimed. This process includes introducing a gas, a liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas, into an underground formation containing hydrocarbons such as crude oil and gas, permitting said gas to be absorbed by said hydrocarbons, and withdrawing said hydrocarbons containing the gas therein, wherein a pill of Hydrocarbon Recovery Fluid comprising surface functionalized nanoparticles is inserted into the underground formation containing hydrocarbons before, during or after the introduction of the gas, liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas.

Abstract: A method for cooling an underground pipe containing a cable for carrying electricity by feeding an inert gas stream to the underground pipe is disclosed. Cooling for the underground pipe containing the electric cable can be performed by the steps of feeding to the underground pipe the inert gas stream which will absorb heat generated by the electric cable; the warmer inert gas stream is fed to a heat exchanger where heat is dissipated and a cooler inert gas stream is recirculated to the underground pipe. The method can operate continuously while electricity is being transmitted along the cable.

Abstract: A method for predicting corrosion in a pipeline wherein the pipeline is subject to corrosion by the steps of obtaining data of parameters associated with the pipeline, comparing the data against previously generated data of parameters associated with the pipeline, and calculating, based on differences between the data with the previously generated data the probability of corrosion in the pipeline. The calculation can be performed using a variety of algorithms and modeling methods.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and detecting leaks in a pipeline is disclosed. The method is particularly useful in pipelines that are transporting hydrocarbons. Gas enabled photo sensitive particles are fed into the pipeline and when they encounter a leak, change their condition. This change is captured by a detector which transmits the data to an operator that a leak condition exists as well as its location and intensity.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recovering nitrogen and alkenes (e.g. ethylene, propylene) from process gas streams, including multi-step condensing of the process gas stream, are provided herein.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recovering alkenes (e.g. ethylene, propylene) and nitrogen from process gas streams, including multi-step condensing of the process gas stream, are provided herein.