Abstract: A feed distributor for a settler is provided, the settler effective for separating a solvent-diluted bitumen froth into a water/solids stream and a hydrocarbon stream, the feed distributor comprising: an inlet conduit effective to route bitumen froth into the settler; and an essentially horizontal plate attached to a lower extremity of the inlet conduit and wherein the inlet conduit defines openings through which the solvent-diluted bitumen froth can pass from inside the inlet conduit to a volume above the essentially horizontal plate.

Abstract: A method for producing a gas comprising at least 80 vol % carbon monoxide from a Fischer-Tropsch off-gas comprising: (1) feeding Fischer-Tropsch off-gas through a column comprising an adsorbent bed at high pressure and discharging effluent; (2) reducing the pressure in the column and the bed slightly; (3) rinsing the column and the adsorbent bed with methane or carbon dioxide; (4) rinsing the column and the adsorbent bed with carbon dioxide; (5) reducing the pressure of the column and adsorbent bed to a low pressure; (6) rinsing the column and adsorbent bed with a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen; (7) pressurizing the column and adsorbent bed to a high pressure using a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. The carbon monoxide rich product stream obtained in step (3) can be sent as feed to a Fischer-Tropsch reaction. In an embodiment, a gas comprising at least 80 vol % hydrogen is also produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated process for preparing an epoxide from an oxygenate, wherein the production of a lower olefin from the oxygenate and the subsequent epoxidation of the lower olefin is combined and wherein isobutene, a by-product of the lower olefin production, is converted into a hydroperoxide that is used for the conversion of the lower olefin into the corresponding epoxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated process for preparing an epoxide from an oxygenate, wherein the oxygenate is converted into a lower olefin and the lower olefin is subsequently epoxidised, and wherein isobutane obtained after hydrogenation and subsequent normal/iso separation of C4 hydrocarbons obtained as by-product of the oxygenate conversion, is converted into a hydroperoxide that is used for the conversion of the lower olefin into the corresponding epoxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for converting an alkyl tert-alkyl ether into an alkanol and an iso-alkane wherein the alkyl tert-alkyl ether is contacted with a hydrocracking catalyst in the presence of hydrogen under hydrocracking process conditions.

Abstract: An insulated conductor heater includes an electrical conductor that produce heats when an electrical current is provided to the electrical conductor. An inner electrical insulator at least partially surrounds the electrical conductor. The inner electrical insulator includes a first insulation material and a second insulation material. The second insulation material has a higher dielectric constant than the first insulation material. An outer electrical insulator at least partially surrounds the inner electrical insulator. The outer electrical insulator includes the first insulation material.

Abstract: A system for assessing one or more temperatures along an insulated conductor in an opening in a subsurface formation includes an insulated conductor with a length comprising at least two sections of insulation with different capacitances. The sections with the different capacitances include different takeoff temperatures for at least one dielectric property of the insulation.

Abstract: A method includes coupling a core of a heating section to a core of an overburden section of an insulated conductor. A diameter of the core of the heating section is less than a diameter of the core of the overburden section. A first insulation layer is placed over the core of the heating section such that at least part of an end portion of the core of the heating section is exposed. A second insulation layer is placed over the core of the overburden section such that the second insulation layer extends over the exposed portion of the core of the heating section. A thickness of the second insulation layer is less than a thickness of the first insulation layer and an outer diameter of the overburden section is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the heating section.

Abstract: A method for forming an insulated conductor heater includes placing an insulation layer over at least part of an elongated, cylindrical inner electrical conductor. An elongated, cylindrical outer electrical conductor is placed over at least part of the insulation layer to form the insulated conductor heater. One or more cold working/heat treating steps are performed on the insulated conductor heater. The cold working/heat treating steps include: cold working the insulated conductor heater to reduce a cross-sectional area of the insulated conductor heater by at least about 30% and heat treating the insulated conductor heater at a temperature of at least about 870° C. The cross-sectional area of the insulated conductor heater is then reduced by an amount ranging between about 5% and about 20% to a final cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A method for accommodating thermal expansion of a heater in a formation includes flowing a heat transfer fluid through a conduit to provide heat to the formation and providing substantially constant tension to an end portion of the conduit that extends outside the formation. At least a portion of the end portion of the conduit is wound around a movable wheel used to apply tension to the conduit.

Abstract: A method of forming a tubular around one or more insulated conductors includes providing one or more insulated conductors and a strip of carbon steel to a tubular assembly location. The strip of carbon steel is formed into a tubular shape in the tubular assembly location. At least a portion of the insulated conductors are provided lengthwise inside the tubular shape as the strip of carbon steel is being formed into the tubular shape such that the tubular shape at least partially surrounds the one or more insulated conductors. The longitudinal edges of the strip of carbon steel together are welded to form a carbon steel tubular around the insulated conductors.

Abstract: A xylan-containing feed is contacted, in the first reactor essentially operated at plug flow, with an aqueous solution of an acid at a temperature in the range from equal to or more than 140° C. to equal to or less than 210° C. to produce an intermediate product. Then, the intermediate product is contacted, in the second reactor which comprises a continuously stirred tank reactor, with an aqueous solution of an acid at a temperature in the range from more than 130° C. to equal to or less than 200° C. to produce a final product.

Abstract: The invention provides a process and an apparatus for the production of ethylene oxide from ethylene. Ethylene and oxygen are supplied to reactor tubes, wherein the reactor tubes are held by upper and lower tube sheets in a reactor vessel. The reactor vessel has a separation grid, dividing the reactor vessel into an upstream zone and a downstream zone. Coolant is supplied to the upstream zone from an upper coolant circuit and is removed from the upstream zone to the upper coolant circuit. A portion of coolant is removed as vapour from the upper coolant circuit. Coolant is supplied to the downstream zone from a lower coolant circuit and is removed from the downstream zone to the lower coolant circuit. Additional coolant is added to the lower coolant circuit. There is net flow of coolant through the separation grid from the downstream zone to the upstream zone.

Abstract: Calcium-containing lignocellulosic material is converted at a temperature in the range from equal to or more than 120° C. to equal to or less than 210° C. with an aqueous acid solution containing one or more inorganic acids and having a pH in the range from equal to or more than 1.8 to equal to or less than 4.0 to produce a mixture, containing pretreated lignocellulosic material and aqueous acid solution, having an overall pH in the range from equal to or more than 3.0 to equal to or less than 4.5. The process allows reduction in the formation of insoluble salts.

Abstract: Dicyclopentadienyl molybdenum crosslinked complexes which can be represented by general formula (1) below are provided, the use thereof as friction-modifiers and lubricating compositions which contain these compounds are also provided. In this formula X is the element oxygen or the element sulphur, Y is the element oxygen or Y is absent, and R1 to R10 are groups selected individually from the group comprising hydrogen, the methyl group and the ethyl group.

Abstract: Processes and reactors for the preparation of an alkylene glycol from an alkylene oxide are provided. In one embodiment, a reactor is provided comprising a carboxylation zone, a hydrolysis zone, and a channel whereby carbon dioxide can be supplied from the hydrolysis zone to the carboxylation zone, wherein the carboxylation zone and the hydrolysis zone are contained within one reactor vessel and wherein the carboxylation zone is separated from the hydrolysis zone by an internal baffle.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for gasifying a fuel to form synthesis gas wherein also a slag is formed. The apparatus comprises: a pressure shell; a slag bath; a gasifier wall; a free-fall trajectory for slag; and a heat shield. The gasifier wall is arranged inside the pressure shell defining a gasification chamber. It comprises a converging wall part that is provided with a slag discharge opening, located above the quench fluid in the slag bath. The heat shield is arranged above the slag bath between the free-fall trajectory and the pressure shell. The heat shield has a wall structure for allowing passage of a cooling fluid, the wall structure comprising an upper wall part and a lower wall part. The lower wall part of the heat shield is essentially refractory free.

Abstract: A method of controlling a direction of a toolface of a bottom hole assembly for slide drilling, comprises a) synchronizing the toolface wherein synchronizing the toolface comprises determining a relationship between the rotational position of the down hole toolface with a rotational position at the surface of the formation for at least one point in time, b) stopping rotation of the drill string coupled to the bottom hole assembly, c) controlling torque at the surface of the drill string to control a rotational position of the toolface, and d) commencing a slide of the drill string.

Abstract: A method of steering a drill bit to form an opening in a subsurface formation, comprises a) determining a distance from design of a well, and b) determining an angle offset from design of the well wherein angle offset from design is the difference between the inclination and azimuth of the hole and the inclination and azimuth of plan, c) wherein at least one distance from design and at least one angle offset from design are determined in real time based, at least in part, on a position of the hole at the last survey, a position at a projected current location of the bit, and a projected position of the bit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lubricating oil composition comprising at least one type of base oil selected from mineral oils and synthetic oils, and a succinate ester and a sarcosinic acid as rust prevention agents. The succinate ester content is preferably set at 0.01 to 0.1 wt. %, and the sarcosinic acid content is preferably set at 0.001 to 0.01 wt. %. Further, they are preferably set such that the resulting weight ratio of the succinate ester content and sarcosinic acid content is 1:0.01 to 0.7. The lubricating oil composition according to the present invention shows excellent rust prevention properties and a satisfactorily long oxidation lifetime. Further it allows to attain a high level of anti-sludge performance and extreme pressure performance and lubrication performance, even when it is used for example in turbine bearings in combined cycle generators having multiplier gears operated under severe high temperature and high pressure conditions.