Abstract: Method for characterizing the hydrocarbon content of a reformate sample stream comprising methane, water, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and hydrogen from a steam-hydrocarbon reforming process. Water and ammonia are removed from the reformate sample stream and the hydrocarbon content of the reformate sample stream depleted in water and ammonia is measured using a chemical component analyzer.

Abstract: Provided herein are, inter alia, compositions including a surfactant and a novel compound useful in enhanced oil recovery. The compositions and methods provided herein may be particularly useful for oil recovery under a broad range of reservoir conditions (e.g. high to low temperatures, high to low salinity, highly viscous oils).

Abstract: A process and composition for removing heavy oil and bitumen from oil sands is disclosed. The composition comprises an emulsion of d-limonene in water, with an optional anionic surfactant as an emulsifying agent. The emulsion is contacted with an oil sand slurry until the aqueous and hydrocarbon phases separate. The process may take place at temperatures less than about 80° C. and with low concentrations of the d-limonene.

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for deasphalting and extracting a hydrocarbon oil. The processes comprise providing an oil comprising asphaltenes and/or other impurities, combining the oil with a polar solvent an extracting agent to provide a mixture, and applying a stimulus to the mixture so that at least a portion of any asphaltenes and/or impurities in the oil precipitate out of the oil.

Abstract: A method of separating a petroleum-containing material into at least two fractions, an extraction system, and an extraction fluid therefor are provided. Petroleum-containing material as well as a solvent mixture comprising 50%-99% by volume sub-critical carbon dioxide and 1%-50% by volume of at least one co-solvent are introduced into an extraction column. The co-solvent can be propane, ethane, butane, propylene 2 methylpropane, 2,2 dimethylpropane, propadiene, dimethylether, chlorodifluoromethane, difluoromethane and methylfluoride. A fraction containing solvent mixture and solvated petroleum-containing material is removed from the top portion of the extraction column, while a dense fraction of the petroleum-containing material, as well as solvent mixture, is withdrawn from the bottom portion of the extraction column. Solvent mixture is recovered from the solvated petroleum-containing material.

Abstract: A method and device for protecting objects in storage from damaging environments including a collapsible bag with a sealable opening having a vacuum attachment, for evacuating the bag, and an injection valve, for injecting an atmosphere, attached.

Abstract: Internally unsaturated near linear oligomers of lower olefins are converted into alpha olefins, or 1-alkenes, of essentially the same degree of linearity. The internally unsaturated olefins are the product of lower alkene oligomerization using a surface deactivated zeloite, such as ZSM-5 or ZSM-23, and contain about 1 to 2 methyl branches per twelve (12) carbon atoms. The feedstock is converted to alpha olefin oligomers which also contain approximately 1 to 2 methyl branches per thirteen (13) carbon atoms. The conversion is achieved by hydroformylation of the near linear internal olefins to provide a novel 1-alkanol oligomer structure without further branching of the carbon oligomeric chain. Acetylation of the 1-alkanol followed by deesterification by pyrolysis provides the sought for near linear 1-alkene. The near-linear oligomers of lower olefins so produced comprise vinyl hydrocarbon monomers that can be further oligomerized by cationic and coordination catalysts.

Abstract: A mixture of normally liquid organic compounds, particularly a light cycle oil obtained by the catalytic cracking of petroleum oils, is separated by contacting the mixture with an essentially anhydrous organic sulfoxide, particularly dimethylsulfoxide, to dissolve an organic extract in said sulfoxide and form an extract phase, comprising sulfoxide and the organic extract, and a raffinate phase, comprising the organic raffinate; diluting the extract phase with about 4.0 to 10.0 wt.

Abstract: An improvement to a continuous solvent extraction-steam distillation process for the recovery of aromatic hydrocarbons in the range of C.sub.6 -C.sub.16 from a feed stream containing such aromatics and aliphatic hydrocarbons in the range of C.sub.5 -C.sub.16 which resides in utilizing two heat exchangers wherein the heat of condensation of the overhead stripper vapor and vapor sidedraw products is recovered and utilized to vaporize the stripping water, thereby producing stripping steam which in turn is compressed up to the pressure present at the bottom of the stripper and resulting in the reduction of the heat load of the process.

Abstract: A method for separating olefins from paraffins in which a mixture of olefin and paraffin is contacted with a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) extractant stream in the liquid phase thereby dissolving olefins in the DMSO and permitting separation of a paraffin stream. The DMSO containing dissolved olefin is then contacted with water and a phase separation is effected between olefin and a mixture of DMSO and water. At least a portion of the DMSO and water mixture can be fractionated to produce a dried DMSO product which can be recycled as a portion of the extractant into contact with the mixture of olefin and paraffin.

Abstract: An improved solvent refining process for hydrocarbon oils such as asphalt-free lube fractions and diesel fuels is provided by recycling an inert gas such as nitrogen through the contact zone of the extraction tower.

Abstract: Petroleum fractions may be separated into aromatic rich and paraffinic-rich hydrocarbon streams by the use of methanol/water mixtures having at least 10% water by volume. The paraffinic-rich stream is recovered as raffinate and the aromatic-rich as extract. After the extraction step additional water is added to the extract and raffinate streams where it acts as an anti-solvent to effect separation of the hydrocarbon from the solvent. The water and methanol are then separated for example by flash distillation or by using super critical CO.sub.2 as an extraction solvent.

Abstract: Lubricating oil stocks are upgraded by contacting same with a solvent comprising a mixture of n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and phenol. The solvent may also contain a minor amount of water. The phenol concentration in the solvent ranges between about 20 and 80 LV% based on the total amount of NMP, phenol and water in the solvent, while the water concentration in the solvent ranges between 0 and about 10 LV% based on the total amount of NMP, phenol and water in the solvent and preferably between about 1 and 4 LV%. At least a portion of the solvent is recovered from the thus-formed extract and raffinate phases by heating same to temperatures in the range of about 500.degree. to 700.degree. F., thereby flashing off the bulk of the solvent; remaining solvent may be stripped out from the extract and raffinate phases with an inert gas such as nitrogen, light hydrocarbons or hydrogen at superatmospheric pressures.

Abstract: Petroleum fractions may be separated into aromatic-rich and paraffinic-rich hydrocarbon streams by the use of methanol/water mixtures having more than 20% water. The paraffinic-rich stream is recovered as raffinate. The aromatic-rich stream passes out of the extraction zone and is recovered by lowering the temperature to induce a phase separation.