Abstract: The invention relates to a crop husbandry composition comprising an alcohol or mixture of alcohols of the formula (I) R1—OH (I) wherein R1 is a linear or branched alkyl having a total number of carbon atoms from 18 to 40; and an alcohol alkoxylate or mixture of alcohol alkoxylates of the formula (II) R2—O—(C2H2zO)x—H (II) wherein R2 is a linear or branched alkyl having a total number of carbon atoms from 18 to 40, z has a value of 2 or 3, and x has a value of from 1 to 150. The invention extends to a crop husbandry emulsion and to a field solution comprising said crop husbandry composition, and to a method for the cultivation, treatment, and/or protection of plants, crops, seeds, plant propagation material, aquatic environments, soil, or the like.

Abstract: The use of a composition for defoaming non-aqueous foams, the prevention of foam formation, and/or the deaeration of various feeds, wherein said nonaqueous foam comprises a non-aqueous phase and a gas, and wherein said composition comprises at least: i) a non-ionic surfactant, wherein said non-ionic surfactant has a molecular structure as shown in (I), R1—CH(R2)—CH2—O—(A?O)m(A?O)n—H wherein R1 is an alkyl group having from 5 to 16 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkyl group having from 5 to 16 carbon atoms, A?O is an ethoxy (EO) or a propoxy (PO) group, A?O is an ethoxy (EO) or a propoxy (PO) group, m=0-10, n=20-150, and ii) a solvent.

Abstract: A delayed coking process in which shot coke and thermally cracked coker products are produced from a sponge coke- and/or transition coke-forming resid feed comprising sponge coke asphaltenes by mixing heteroatom (preferably nitrogen) containing asphaltenes from a shot coke-forming resid with a heated sponge coke-forming resid to form shot coke directing asphaltene aggregates in the resid. The mixture of resid with the added asphaltene is held at an elevated temperature to allow co-aggregates of sponge coke and shot coke asphaltenes to form which, upon delayed coking promote the production of a free-flowing shot coke product.

Abstract: A delayed coking process in which shot coke and thermally cracked coker products are produced from a sponge coke- and/or transition coke-forming resid feed comprising sponge coke asphaltenes by mixing heteroatom (preferably nitrogen) containing asphaltenes from a shot coke-forming resid with a heated sponge coke-forming resid to form shot coke directing asphaltene aggregates in the resid. The mixture of resid with the added asphaltene is held at an elevated temperature to allow co-aggregates of sponge coke and shot coke asphaltenes to form which, upon delayed coking promote the production of a free-flowing shot coke product.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for re-injecting formation solids such as drillbit cuttings into a subsurface formation including: obtaining a volume of solid particles comprising a non-aqueous fluid; obtaining a slurry-forming fluid, the slurry-forming fluid comprising water, salt, a viscosifying water soluble polymer, and an oily solids aggregator; mixing the obtained solid particles and the slurry-forming fluid to create an injectable slurry; and introducing the injectable slurry into a wellbore for injection into a subsurface formation.

Abstract: A method is provided for enhancing the shear stability of a high-viscosity fluid-water flow system, such as a core annular flow system. The method employs a family of demulsifier additives for maintaining separation of the fluids in biphasic flow. The additive family is sodium salts of polynuclear aromatic sulfonic acids. In one aspect, the high-viscosity fluid is heavy oil. A method to flow oil through a biphasic flow system is also provided. The method includes locating an oil in the biphasic flow system; placing water within the biphasic flow system; flowing the oil through the biphasic flow system within an annular flow of water; and subjecting the water in the biphasic flow system to a salt of a polynuclear aromatic sulfonic acid additive so as to improve shear stability of the oil and water.

Abstract: A process for the co-gasification of carbonaceous solids (coal, coke) and biomass in which the biomass material is pyrolyzed to provide a biomass pyrolysis oil and biomass char or coke which are then mixed with the carbonaceous solid to form a slurry. This slurry is then heated if necessary to achieve a viscosity which can be processed conveniently in the gasifier. The heat required for pyrolyzing the biomass can conveniently be obtained from the heat exchanger used to cool the hot synthesis gas product emerging from the gasifier.

Abstract: Methods are provided for separating algae from an aqueous environment. An aqueous feed containing algae can be mixed in a turbulent manner in an aerated environment. The turbulent mixing can be sufficient to create a foam within the aqueous feed. The formation of the foam can also result in agglomeration of algae into larger size algae aggregates, which can then be filtered under pressure. Due to the larger size of the algae aggregates, the pressurized filtration can reduce/minimize the tendency to clog the filter, as the algae aggregates can generally be too large to fit within the pores of the filter. The filter can preferably be located at the bottom of the vessel holding the aqueous feed. This can assist in allowing the algae to remain in a cake above the filter, as opposed to having the algae dissolve back into the aqueous feed.

Abstract: A novel composition is provided that incorporates the residual solids from solvent deasphalting to make a high value asphalt product. A process for making the asphalt composition is also provided. A first portion of heavy oil or another feedstock can be deasphalted using propane deasphalting or another suitable deasphalting process. This generates a solvated fraction and an insoluble deasphalting residue. The deasphalting residue is then added to a second portion of heavy oil, such as a second portion of the same type of heavy oil that was used as feedstock in the solvent deasphalting. The mixture of deasphalting residue and heavy oil results in a novel dispersion that is suitable for use as an asphalt. Optionally, an additive such as an alkyl substituted aromatic sulfonic acid can be added to the composition to further improve the asphalt properties.

Abstract: Methods are provided for separating algae from an aqueous environment. An aqueous feed containing algae can be aged for a period of at least about 90 hours without purging or other aeration. The aging of the aqueous feed can result in formation of aggregated algae, which can then be filtered under pressure. Due to the larger size of the algae aggregates, the pressurized filtration can reduce/minimize the tendency to clog the filter, as the algae aggregates can generally be too large to fit within the pores of the filter. The filter can preferably be located at the bottom of the vessel holding the aqueous feed. This can assist in allowing the algae to remain in a cake above the filter, as opposed to having the algae dissolve back into the aqueous feed.

Abstract: An operations fluid is provided for treatment operations on wellbores associated with hydrocarbon production, the operations fluid comprising: water, an inorganic primary acid; and an alkyl acid surfactant. The alkyl acid surfactant has the general formula {R—X}, wherein R comprises at least one of linear and branched alkyl and alkyl aryl hydrocarbon chains and X comprises an acid, and X may comprise an acid selected from the group comprising sulfonic acids, carboxylic acids, phosphoric acids, and mixtures thereof. The alkyl acid may include an acid selected from the group consisting of alkyl or alkyl aryl acids. The operations fluid may be useful in treatment operations related to formation stimulation or mitigation of non-aqueous filter cakes (NAF) and/or formation invasion by NAF drilling fluids.

Abstract: An operations fluid composition for operations on wells associated with the production of hydrocarbons, the fluid composition comprising: not less than 40 wt % of hydrocarbon fluid, based upon the total weight of the fluid composition; water; and from 0.1 to 10 wt % of a surfactant selected from alkyl acid surfactant, based upon the total weight of water in the fluid composition. Method for using the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for re-injecting formation solids into a subsurface formation includes obtaining a volume of solid particles from drilling returns, and then obtaining an aqueous operations fluid comprising at least one surfactant. Mixing a volume of the operations fluid with the volume of solid particles to form a slurry which is injected into a disposal well which includes a NAF filter cake. Then injecting the slurry into one or more fractures formed in the subsurface formation such that the slurry contacts the NAF filter cake en route to the one or more fractures.

Abstract: The lubricating oil used to lubricate diesel engines is stabilized against the detrimental degradation effects of biodiesel fuel by the addition to the lubricating oil of an additive concentrate comprising a premix of a first antioxidant, a second antioxidant of a type different from the first and an organometallic compound.

Abstract: Methods are provided for separating algae from an aqueous environment. An aqueous feed containing algae can be mixed in a turbulent manner in an aerated environment. The turbulent mixing can be sufficient to create a foam within the aqueous feed. The formation of the foam can also result in agglomeration of algae into larger size algae aggregates, which can then be filtered under pressure. Due to the larger size of the algae aggregates, the pressurized filtration can reduce/minimize the tendency to clog the filter, as the algae aggregates can generally be too large to fit within the pores of the filter. The filter can preferably be located at the bottom of the vessel holding the aqueous feed. This can assist in allowing the algae to remain in a cake above the filter, as opposed to having the algae dissolve back into the aqueous feed.

Abstract: Methods are provided for separating algae from an aqueous environment. An aqueous feed containing algae can be aged for a period of at least about 90 hours without purging or other aeration. The aging of the aqueous feed can result in formation of aggregated algae, which can then be filtered under pressure. Due to the larger size of the algae aggregates, the pressurized filtration can reduce/minimize the tendency to clog the filter, as the algae aggregates can generally be too large to fit within the pores of the filter. The filter can preferably be located at the bottom of the vessel holding the aqueous feed. This can assist in allowing the algae to remain in a cake above the filter, as opposed to having the algae dissolve back into the aqueous feed.

Abstract: Lubricating oil used for the lubrication of engines run on biodiesel fuels are improved in their resistance to oxidation by the addition to said to lubricating oil of particular detergents, and premixed mixtures of particular detergents and anti-oxidants.

Abstract: A method is provided for enhancing the shear stability of a high-viscosity fluid-water flow system, such as a core annular flow system. The method employs a family of demulsifier additives for maintaining separation of the fluids in biphasic flow. The additive family is sodium salts of polynuclear aromatic sulfonic acids. In one aspect, the high-viscosity fluid is heavy oil. A method to flow oil through a biphasic flow system is also provided. The method includes locating an oil in the biphasic flow system; placing water within the biphasic flow system; flowing the oil through the biphasic flow system within an annular flow of water; and subjecting the water in the biphasic flow system to a salt of a polynuclear aromatic sulfonic acid additive so as to improve shear stability of the oil and water.

Abstract: A process for producing a nanocomposite of a halogenated elastomer and an inorganic, exfoliated clay includes the in-situ protonation of a modifier, which may be an alkylamine, arylamine or an alkylarylamine. This process can be integrated with a polymer halogenation process. The nanocomposite so formed has improved air barrier properties and is suitable for use as a tire innerliner or innertube.

Abstract: A novel composition is provided that incorporates the residual solids from solvent deasphalting to make a high value asphalt product. A process for making the asphalt composition is also provided. A first portion of heavy oil or another feedstock can be deasphalted using propane deasphalting or another suitable deasphalting process. This generates a solvated fraction and an insoluble deasphalting residue. The deasphalting residue is then added to a second portion of heavy oil, such as a second portion of the same type of heavy oil that was used as feedstock in the solvent deasphalting. The mixture of deasphalting residue and heavy oil results in a novel dispersion that is suitable for use as an asphalt. Optionally, an additive such as an alkyl substituted aromatic sulfonic acid can be added to the composition to further improve the asphalt properties.