Abstract: The invention pertains to a reactor tube comprising a fixed bed of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles, wherein the catalyst particles in 5%-40% of the fixed bed volume at the upstream end have an average outer surface to volume ratio (S/V) of between 3.0 to 4.5 mm-1, and the remaining catalyst particles have an average S/V of between 4.5 to 8.0 mm-1, and wherein the difference between the average S/V of the particles at the upstream end and the remaining fixed bed volume is at least 0.5 mm-1. Additionally the fixed bed volume at the upstream end shows a full-bed apparent catalytic activity per volume unit lower than the full-bed apparent catalytic activity per volume unit in the remaining fixed bed volume and/or the weight of catalytically active metal per weight unit at the upstream end is more than 70% lower than in the remaining fixed bed volume.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a reactor tube comprising a fixed bed of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles, wherein the catalyst particles in 5% to 40% of the fixed bed volume at the upstream end have an average outer surface to volume ratio (S/V) of between 3.0 to 4.5 mm?1, and the catalyst particles in the remaining fixed bed volume have an average S/V of between 4.5 to 8.0 mm?1, and wherein the difference between the average S/V of the particles at the upstream end and the average S/V of the particles in the remaining fixed bed volume is at least 0.5 mm?1. The weight of catalytically active metal per volume unit in 5% to 33% of the fixed bed volume at the upstream end is 59% to 69% lower than the weight of catalytically active metal per volume unit in the remaining fixed bed volume.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a reactor tube comprising a fixed bed of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles, wherein the catalyst particles in 5%-40% of the fixed bed volume at the upstream end have an average outer surface to volume ratio (S/V) of between 3.0 to 4.5 mm-1, and the remaining catalyst particles have an average S/V of between 4.5 to 8.0 mm-1, and wherein the difference between the average S/V of the particles at the upstream end and the remaining fixed bed volume is at least 0.5 mm-1. Additionally the fixed bed volume at the upstream end shows a full-bed apparent catalytic activity per volume unit lower than the full-bed apparent catalytic activity per volume unit in the remaining fixed bed volume and/or the weight of catalytically active metal per weight unit at the upstream end is more than 70% lower than in the remaining fixed bed volume.

Abstract: Method to start a steady state process for producing normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas, which process comprises the steps of: (i) providing the synthesis gas; and (ii) catalytically converting the synthesis gas at an elevated temperature and a steady state total reactor pressure to obtain the normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons; the method comprising admixing the synthesis gas of step (i) with one or more inert gases to form an admixture stream prior to catalytically converting the synthesis gas in step (ii) at the steady state total reactor pressure and wherein as the activity of the catalyst converting the synthesis gas proceeds towards a steady state, the amount of inert gas(es) in the admixture stream is reduced.

Abstract: A method to start a steady state process for producing normally gaseous, liquid and solid hydrocarbons comprises providing a synthesis gas and catalytically converting the synthesis gas into normally gaseous, liquid or solid hydrocarbons. The process involves using at least a portion of the gaseous hydrocarbons produced as a recycle stream to which hydrogen is added prior to its reintroduction into the reactors and as the activity of the catalyst converting the synthesis gas proceeds from start-up towards a steady state, the amount of recycle stream is reduced.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the removal of COS and H2S from a synthesis gas stream comprising COS and H2S, the process having the steps of: removing H2S from a feed synthesis gas stream with a first solid adsorbent to obtain a first synthesis gas stream, converting COS in the first synthesis gas stream to H2S by contacting the first synthesis gas stream with a COS-hydrolysing catalyst in the presence of water in a hydrolysis zone to obtain a second synthesis gas stream depleted of COS and enriched in H2S; and removing H2S from the second synthesis gas stream by contacting the second synthesis gas stream with a second solid adsorbent in a H2S removal zone to obtain a third synthesis gas stream depleted of H2S and depleted of COS to very low levels.

Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. The mixture may be separated into condensable hydrocarbons and non-condensable hydrocarbons. The condensable hydrocarbons removed from the formation may be a high quality oil that has a relatively low olefin content and a relatively high API gravity.

Abstract: A multi-stage process for the production of hydrocarbon products from syngas, each stage of the process comprising one or more syngas conversion reactors in which syngas is partially converted into hydrocarbon products at conversion conditions, each conversion reactor having a syngas entry stream system which system combines two or more entry streams of syngas and which system delivers the combined syngas to the syngas conversion reactor, the syngas entry system combining at least one entry stream of syngas being a syngas stream obtained in a partial oxidation process (for the first stage) or an exit stream of syngas from the previous stage, together with a reformed syngas (for all stages except the first stage), with another syngas stream being a recycle stream from the conversion reactor and a syngas exit stream system which discharges an exit stream of syngas from the reactor, the exit stream partly being used as the recycle stream to the syngas entry system as mentioned above, and, in the case that there

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst. The process allows the delamination of layered crystals which are used as a starting material for a catalyst. The starting material is subsequently converted into an active portion of a catalyst with an increased dispersion resulting in a higher activity. Preferred delaminating agents are di-carboxylic acids and one particular example is citric acid. Preferably at least 0.75 wt %, more preferably at least 1.5 wt % of a delaminating agent is added to the catalyst starting material.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of detergents containing a relatively low amount of isoparaffins, involving separating a hydrocarbonaceous product stream from a Fischer-Tropsch process using a cobalt based catalyst and producing normally liquid and normally solid hydrocarbons into a light fraction boiling below an intermediate fraction having detergent hydrocarbons, an intermediate boiling fraction having detergent hydrocarbons and a heavy fraction boiling above the intermediate boiling fraction having detergent hydrocarbons, followed by conversion of the detergent hydrocarbons present in the intermediate boiling fraction into detergents, the Fischer-Tropsch process being carried out at a relatively high pressure.

Abstract: A multi-stage process for the production of hydrocarbon products from syngas, each stage of the process comprising one or more syngas conversion reactors in which syngas is partially converted into hydrocarbon products at conversion conditions, each conversion reactor having a syngas entry stream system which system combines two or more entry streams of syngas and which system delivers the combined syngas to the syngas conversion reactor, the syngas entry system combining at least one entry stream of syngas being a syngas stream obtained in a partial oxidation process (for the first stage) or an exit stream of syngas from the previous stage, together with a reformed syngas (for all stages except the first stage), with another syngas stream being a recycle stream from the conversion reactor and a syngas exit stream system which discharges an exit stream of syngas from the reactor, the exit stream partly being used as the recycle stream to the syngas entry system as mentioned above, and, in the case that there

Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. The mixture may be separated into condensable hydrocarbons and non-condensable hydrocarbons. The condensable hydrocarbons removed from the formation may be a high quality oil that has a relatively low olefin content and a relatively high API gravity.

Abstract: Method to start a steady state process for producing normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas, which process comprises the steps of: (i) providing the synthesis gas; (ii) catalytically converting the synthesis gas in one or more conversion reactors at an elevated temperature and a pressure to obtain the normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons; and (iii) using at least a portion of the gaseous hydrocarbons produced by step (ii) as a recycle stream to be reintroduced into conversion reactor(s) of step (ii); the method comprising admixing a hydrogen stream with the recycle stream of step (iii) prior to its reintroduction into conversion reactor(s) of step (ii), wherein as the activity of the catalyst converting the synthesis gas proceeds towards a steady state, the amount of recycle stream is reduced.

Abstract: Method to start a steady state process for producing normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas, which process comprises the steps of: (i) providing the synthesis gas; and (ii) catalytically converting the synthesis gas at an elevated temperature and a steady state total reactor pressure to obtain the normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons; the method comprising admixing the synthesis gas of step (i) with one or more inert gases to form an admixture stream prior to catalytically converting the synthesis gas in step (ii) at the steady state total reactor pressure and wherein as the activity of the catalyst converting the synthesis gas proceeds towards a steady state, the amount of inert gas(es) in the admixture stream is reduced.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the removal of COS from a first synthesis gas stream comprising COS and H2S, the process having the steps of: (a) converting COS in the first synthesis gas stream to H2S by contacting the first synthesis gas stream with a COS-hydrolysing catalyst in the presence of water in a hydrolysis zone to obtain a second synthesis gas stream depleted of COS and enriched in H2S; (b) removing H2S from the second synthesis gas stream by contacting the second synthesis gas stream with a solid adsorbent in a H2S removal zone to obtain a third synthesis gas stream depleted of H2S and depleted of COS

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst. The process allows the delamination of layered crystals which are used as a starting material for a catalyst. The starting material is subsequently converted into an active portion of a catalyst with an increased dispersion resulting in a higher activity. Preferred delaminating agents are di-carboxylic acids and one particular example is citric acid. Preferably at least 0.75 wt %, more preferably at least 1.5 wt % of a delaminating agent is added to the catalyst starting material.

Abstract: An in situ process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is provided. The process may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to at least a portion of the formation. Heat sources may include a natural distributed combustor. The natural distributed combustor may include an oxidizing fluid source to provide oxidizing fluids to a reaction zone in the formation to generate heat within the reaction zone. The heat may be allowed, in some embodiments, to transfer from the reaction zone to a selected section of the formation such that heat from one or more heat sources pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation.

Abstract: A process for preparing a shell metal catalyst or a precursor of a shell metal catalyst which process includes the steps of: applying a slurry having a diluent; a catalytically active metal or a precursor compound thereof; and optionally a refractory oxide; designated hereinafter as “first refractory oxide” of an element having an atomic number of at least 20 or a precursor of the first refractory oxide; onto the surface of particles of a core carrier; forming a wet coating; and removing at least a part of the diluent from the wet coating; wherein the slurry has at least 5% w of the catalytically active metal or the precursor compound thereof; calculated on the weight of the metal relative to the weight of calcinations residue which can be formed from the slurry by drying the slurry and calcining. The invention also relates to a shell metal catalyst or a precursor of a shell metal catalyst which is obtainable by the process; and the use of the shell metal catalyst in a chemical conversion process.

Abstract: A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a synthesis gas production temperature. A synthesis gas producing fluid may be introduced into the formation to generate synthesis gas. Synthesis gas may be produced from the formation in a batch manner or in a substantially continuous manner.

Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat may be supplied to the formation by reacting an oxidant with hydrocarbons adjacent to wellbores to generate heat. Generated heat may be transferred to the portion substantially by conduction to pyrolyze at least a portion of hydrocarbon material within the portion.