Abstract: The present invention is generally related to the correlation of physical and/or chemical measurements with other physical and/or chemical measurements and the application of the correlation to transform a product or process (e.g., to formulate, mix, blend compounds or materials of various natures and origins) upon predicting/estimating certain property(ies) and/or performance index(ices) as indicated by a dependent variable estimate. Embodiments of the inventive technology applies specifically to the problem of producing a correlation when the independent variables of interest exceed the number of observations. This situation is common in many fields of science and technology, such as, but not limited to, spectroscopy, calorimetry, thermogravimetric, chromatography and others. A perhaps primary advantage of embodiments of the inventive method over prior art is the ability to generate correlations directly in terms of measured variables.

Abstract: Ultrasonic spectroscopy, calorimetry, or thermogravimetric analysis provide measures which correlate with properties of asphaltene complex of petroleum residua which can be used to establish or maintain consistent properties of petroleum residua during blending or to determine immediacy of petroleum residuea to deposition phenomena during pyrolytic thermal treatment.

Abstract: Ultrasonic spectroscopy, calorimetry, or thermogravimetric analysis provide measures which correlate with properties of asphaltene complex of petroleum residua which can be used to establish or maintain consistent properties of petroleum residua during blending or to determine immediacy of petroleum residuea to deposition phenomena during pyrolytic thermal treatment.

Abstract: Method and system for characterizing a vertical modified in situ oil shale retort prior to ignition of the retort. The retort is formed by mining a void at the bottom of a proposed retort in an oil shale deposit. The deposit is then sequentially blasted into the void to form a plurality of layers of rubble. A plurality of units each including a tracer gas cannister are installed at the upper level of each rubble layer prior to blasting to form the next layer. Each of the units includes a receiver that is responsive to a coded electromagnetic (EM) signal to release gas from the associated cannister into the rubble. Coded EM signals are transmitted to the receivers to selectively release gas from the cannisters. The released gas flows through the retort to an outlet line connected to the floor of the retort. The time of arrival of the gas at a detector unit in the outlet line relative to the time of release of gas from the cannisters is monitored.