| CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120130644 | ELECTRICAL METHODS SEISMIC INTERFACE BOX - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for evaluating the geometry of a fracture. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120128435 | ICE WORTHY JACK-UP DRILLING UNIT WITH CONICAL PILED MONOPOD AND SOCKETS - The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig with a conical piled monopod working together to drill wells and produce hydrocarbons in ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and in sockets attached to the conical piled monopod. Both the hull and conical piled monopod are shaped with ice-bending surfaces to bend and break up ice that comes into contact. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120128434 | ICE WORTHY JACK-UP DRILLING UNIT WITH CONICAL PILED MONOPOD - The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig with a conical piled monopod working together to drill wells and produce hydrocarbons in ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig. Both the hull and conical piled monopod are shaped with ice-bending surfaces to bend and break up ice that comes into contact. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120128433 | CONICAL PILED MONOPOD - The invention relates to a conical piled monopod which is a fixed, ice worthy structure used in cold weather offshore environments for accessing hydrocarbon deposits under the seafloor. The conical piled monopod provides a much lower cost offshore facility as compared to a very large, gravity based structure. The conical piled monopod has a base that is designed to rest on a minimally prepared seafloor and be held in a fixed locations by pilings inserted deep into the seafloor. The top deck is designed to be at least 60 feet across with a sloped or inclined perimeter surface to bend and break the ice that comes into contact with the conical piled monopod as the ice would otherwise impose significant lateral forces. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120128432 | ICE WORTHY JACK-UP DRILLING UNIT WITH MOON POOL FOR PROTECTED DRILLING IN ICE - The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120128431 | ICE WORTHY JACK-UP DRILLING UNIT WITH GAS AGITATED ICE PREVENTION - The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120128430 | ICE WORTHY JACK-UP DRILLING UNIT WITH PRE-LOADING TENSION SYSTEM - The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120128429 | ICE WORTHY JACK-UP DRILLING UNIT WITH GAS AGITATION AND LEG ICE SHIELDS - The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120128428 | REINFORCED LEGS FOR ICE WORTHY JACK-UP DRILLING UNIT - The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120128427 | LEG ICE SHIELDS FOR ICE WORTHY JACK-UP DRILLING UNIT - The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120128426 | ICE WORTHY JACK-UP DRILLING UNIT - The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120125690 | ICE WORTHY JACK-UP DRILLING UNIT WITH TELESCOPING RISER - The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120125688 | ICE WORTHY JACK-UP DRILLING UNIT SECURED TO THE SEAFLOOR - The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120123578 | MARKET OPTIMIZATION OF LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS PROCESS - A method includes controlling a process control system for coordinating the operation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) process. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120123019 | ADDITIVES FOR IMPROVING DRA INJECTION - A composition comprising a drag reducing latex formulation produced by emulsion polymerization to create solid particles dispersed in an aqueous medium and an additive. The use of the composition results in a decrease of film formation while injected through a pump head when compared to the drag reducing latex formulation injected through the pump head. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120119398 | MAKING CARBON ARTICLES FROM COATED PARTICLES - Methods and compositions relate to manufacturing a carbonaceous article from particles that have pitch coatings. Heating the particles that are formed into a shape of the article carbonizes the pitch coatings. The particles interconnect with one another due to being formed into the shape of the article and are fixed together where the pitch coatings along adjoined ones of the particles contact one another and are carbonized to create the article. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120118817 | THIOSULFATE REMOVAL METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Described herein is a cost effective method and system for removal of thiosulfate from a solution in-line with a process system. The method and system include passing the solution in contact with an open-structured substrate impregnated with a Group 16 element, which results in removal of thiosulfate from the solution and conversion of the thiosulfate to at least sulfite. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120118007 | PROCESS OF HEAT INTEGRATING FEED AND COMPRESSOR DISCHARGE STREAMS WITH HEAVIES REMOVAL SYSTEM IN A LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS FACILITY - An LNG facility employing an optimized heavies removal system. The heavies removal system can comprise at least one distillation column and at least two separate heat exchangers. Feed and/or compressor discharge streams can be used to provide heat duty to the heat exchangers in a thermally efficient manner to facilitate the removal of heavy components from an overall LNG facility. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120116135 | HEAT INTEGRATED PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HIGH QUALITY PYROLYSIS OIL FROM BIOMASS - This invention discloses a heat integrated and energy saving process for producing high quality pyrolysis oil from biomass by utilizing a torrefaction pretreatment step for biomass pyrolysis processing wherein the pretreatment step improves the quality of the pyrolysis oil by reducing acidity. This invention further utilizes the gaseous product of the torrefaction step through a combustion process for heat production and recovery. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120113745 | ACTIVE STEERING CURVED AND FLARED SEISMIC STREAMERS - The invention relates to seismic data acquisition in a marine environment with long streamers of hydrophone receivers towed by a boat. In the present invention, the streamers are steered to follow a course that is related to the navigated path of the boat. Hydrophones at the far ends of the long streamers are arranged to follow a course even though the boat may have made a significant turn that would otherwise pull the streamers off the desired course. Using this invention, seismic acquisition is more efficient by allowing the vessel to spend less time outside the survey area and making tighter turns to get back on productive seismic data acquisition. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120108860 | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HIGH QUALITY PYROLYSIS OIL FROM BIOMASS - This invention relates to a process to utilize a torrefaction pretreatment step for biomass pyrolysis process. This pretreatment improves the quality of the pyrolysis oil by reducing acidity. The inventive process shows that as a pretreatment to pyrolysis, resulting pyrolysis oil obtained from torrefied biomass has approximately 25% lower acetic acid than that from untorrefied biomass pyrolysis oil. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120103599 | RESERVOIR PRESSURE TESTING TO DETERMINE HYDRATE COMPOSITION - The present invention relates to a method and system for identifying one or more characteristics within a subterranean reservoir of natural gas. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120101786 | METHOD FOR PARAMETERIZING AND MORPHING STOCHASTIC RESERVOIR MODELS - A method for creating a modified realization of a geostatistical model of a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir is described, which may be used in a history matching process. The modified realization is based on a current realization which is a function of a first uniform random number field. At least one further uniform random number field U | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120097543 | METHOD FOR PREDICTING DROP SIZE DISTRIBUTION - The present invention relates to crude oil-water separation processes, specifically desalting in a petroleum refinery. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for increase coalescence rates of water drops in a desalter | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120097542 | MIXING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INCREASED COALESCENCE RATES IN A DESALTER - The present invention relates to crude oil-water separation processes, specifically desalting in a petroleum refinery. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for increase coalescence rates of water drops in a desalter. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120097401 | SELECTIVE HYDRATE PRODUCTION WITH CO2 AND CONTROLLED DEPRESSURIZATION - The present invention relates to an improved method for recovering hydrocarbons trapped in hydrate formations. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120095274 | COMBINATION OF ZEOLITE UPGRADING WITH HYDROGENATION UPGRADING TO PRODUCE RENEWABLE GASOLINE FROM BIOMASS - Technologies to convert biomass to liquid hydrocarbon fuels are currently being developed to decrease our carbon footprint and increase use of renewable fuels. Since sugars/sugar derivatives from biomass have high oxygen content and low hydrogen content, coke becomes an issue during zeolite upgrading to liquid hydrocarbon fuels. A self-sustainable process was designed to reduce the coke by co-feeding sugars/sugar derivatives with the paraffin products from hydrogenation of sugars/sugar derivatives. Paraffins without complete conversion result in products with less aromatics and relatively low density compared with the products directly from zeolite upgrading. Thus, the process is more economically favorable. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090844 | SIMULTANEOUS CONVERSION AND RECOVERY OF BITUMEN USING RF - The present invention provides a method of producing upgraded hydrocarbons in-situ from a production well. The method begins by operating a subsurface recovery of hydrocarbons with a production well. An RF absorbent material is heated by at least one RF emitter and used as a heated RF absorbent material, which in turn heats the hydrocarbons to be produced. Hydrocarbons are upgraded in-situ and then produced from the production well. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120088945 | CO-PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE DIESEL AND RENEWABLE GASOLINE - A process for co-production of renewable diesel fuel range hydrocarbons and gasoline fuel range hydrocarbons from biomass-derived oils and fatty materials (e.g. triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, and free fatty acids) and biomass-derived polyol (e.g. sorbitol, xylitol, trehalose, sucrose, and sugar alcohol), respectively, in a same refinery hydrotreater with or without co-feeding of diesel fuel range hydrocarbons. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120085537 | HEAVY OIL RECOVERY USING SF6 AND RF HEATING - A method of producing heavy oil by first injecting water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules into a region. The method then introduces electromagnetic waves such as microwaves and/or radio frequencies into the region at a frequency sufficient to excite the water and the sulfur hexafluoride molecules and increase the temperature of at least a portion of the water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules within the region to produce heated water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules. At least a portion of the heavy oil is heated in the region by contact with the heated water and sulfur hexafluoride molecules to produce heated heavy oil. The heated heavy oil is then produced. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120085533 | CYCLIC STEAM STIMULATION USING RF - A method of producing hydrocarbons from a well. The method begins by injecting steam into a well. The bitumen in the formation is then heated with the injected steam, followed by ceasing the injection of steam into the well and then by soaking the bitumen with the injected steam and collecting the heated oil. Steam that has condensed is revaporized by directing RF/MW radiation to the steam allowing for more bitumen to be produced without injecting more steam. In addition, some of the steam could become superheated, wherein the temperature of the superheated steam is greater than the temperature of the steam. The bitumen is heated by the revaporized steam and the superheated steam, followed by soaking the bitumen with the revaporized steam and the superheated steam. Hydrocarbons are then produced from the well. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120080199 | DOUBLE STRING SLURRY PUMP - The invention relates to a double string slurry pump for pumping liquids to the surface of a hydrocarbon well and especially a hydrocarbon well that is producing both natural gas and liquid fluids. The double string slurry pump includes a hollow tube that raises and lowers the plunger and carries the liquids to the surface and an outer tube receives liquids down into the well to periodically flush area around the pump to stir up particles and fines for conveyance out of the wellbore with the liquids. The additional conduit for flushing may be used to provide biocides, solvents or other treatments including with liquids at elevated temperature to create desired results or changes downhole. Moreover, the additional conduit may be provided with ports to provide access to the interior of the gas production path to provide such treatments above the well. The natural gas is produced through the annulus between wellbore casing and the outer production tubing string. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120076720 | SULFUR-TOLERANT CATALYST PREPARED THROUGH HIGH PRESSURE DECOMPOSITION - A method of producing a MoS | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120075629 | PARTICLE ANALYSIS FOR CORROSION RATE MONITORING - Methods and apparatus relate to measuring corrosion rate. Corrosive fluid contacts a metal powder altering physical properties of the metal powder due to resulting corrosion thereof. For example, the corrosion diminishes mass of the metal powder reducing particle size and particle surface area of the metal powder. Since these physical properties of the metal powder are indicative of the corrosion rate, analysis of the metal powder provides the corrosion rate based on difference in the property of the metal powder before and after the contact with the corrosive fluid. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120074969 | COUPON HOLDER FOR CORROSION MEASUREMENT - A non-metallic coupon holder assembly comprising a non-metallic support structure and a plurality of coupon holders. The pluralities of coupon holders are disposed throughout the non-metallic support structure wherein the pluralities of coupon holders are designed to secure a metal coupon on at least two edges. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120074043 | SEPARATION OF AROMATICS WITH PERVAPORATION MEMBRANE - Methods and apparatus relate to separating and removing aromatic compounds from a hydrocarbon stream. Splitting of the hydrocarbon stream into constituents as desired relies on a membrane and distillation columns that supply feed into the membrane and receive retentate and permeate streams output from the membrane. Configurations employing the membrane and the distillation columns enable benzene recovery and facilitate efficient separation. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120074041 | PROCESSING OIL FROM STEAM ASSISTED PRODUCTION - Methods and apparatus relate to treating hydrocarbons recovered with steam condensate from a formation. The treating removes particulates from the hydrocarbons by addition of a flocculant to produced fluids containing the hydrocarbons and an aqueous phase with the condensate. The flocculant causes the particulates suspended in the hydrocarbons to agglomerate and be transferred to the aqueous phase, which is then separated from the hydrocarbons. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120073811 | IN SITU PROCESS FOR MERCURY REMOVAL - Methods and system relate to in-situ treatment of fluid to remove a heavy metal, such as mercury. The treatment utilizes a sorbent injected into a wellbore and disposed in a flow path of the fluid being produced to above ground. The mercury retained by the sorbent upon contact with the fluid may remain within a reservoir from which the fluid is recovered. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120073810 | SITU HYDROCARBON UPGRADING WITH FLUID GENERATED TO PROVIDE STEAM AND HYDROGEN - Methods and apparatus relate to recovery of in situ upgraded hydrocarbons by injecting steam and hydrogen into a reservoir containing the hydrocarbons. A mixture output generated as water is vaporized by direct contact with flow from fuel-rich combustion provides the steam and hydrogen. The steam heats the hydrocarbons facilitating flow of the hydrocarbons and reaction of the hydrogen with the hydrocarbons to enable hydroprocessing prior to recovery of the hydrocarbons to surface. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120073601 | METHOD FOR REMOVING MERCURY CONTAMINATION FROM SOLID SURFACES - A method of selecting a mercury-contaminated solid surface followed by heating a cleaning solution to a temperature less than 100° C. The cleaning solution can contain hydrocarbon oil and one or more organic sulfur compounds. Afterwards, the heated cleaning solution is contacted with the mercury-contaminated solid surface to remove the mercury contamination. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120073439 | SUPPORTED SILVER SULFIDE SORBENT - Synthesis of a support material impregnated with silver sulfide provides a sorbent composition. Generating the silver sulfide relies on reaction of sulfur dioxide and one of hydrogen gas and hydrogen sulfide in presence of the support material following silver loading of the support material. Contacting a fluid stream with the sorbent composition removes heavy metal from the fluid stream. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120067570 | LOW SALINITY RESERVOIR ENVIRONMENT - The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for hydrocarbon recovery. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present invention include methods and systems for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery through secondary recovery operations. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120065059 | LOW TEMPERATURE SULFUR TOLERANT TAR AND SULFUR REMOVAL WITH CONCOMITANT SYNTHESIS GAS CONDITIONING - A catalyst comprising of NiO; Al | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120061081 | RF FRACTURING TO IMPROVE SAGD PERFORMANCE - A method of producing heavy oil from a heavy oil formation with steam assisted gravity drainage. The method begins by drilling a borehole into a heavy oil formation comprising a steam barrier between a first pay zone and a second pay zone, wherein the steam barrier prevents a steam chamber to be formed between the first pay zone and the second pay zone. The steam barrier is then heated with a radio frequency. The steam barrier is then fractured to permit a steam chamber to be formed within the first pay zone and the second pay zone. Heavy oil is then produced from the heavy oil formation with steam assisted gravity drainage. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120061080 | INLINE RF HEATING FOR SAGD OPERATIONS - The present invention provides a method for accelerating start-up for SAGD-type operation by providing radio frequency heating devices inside the lateral wells that can re-heat the injected steam after losing heat energy during the initial injection. The method also extends the lateral wells such that the drilling of vertical wells can be reduced to save capital expenses. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120057429 | TUNING UNIQUE COMPOSITE RELATIVELY ADJUSTED PULSE - The invention relates to acquiring seismic data in either land or marine environments, but typically marine environments where a pulse-type source is fired in a distinctive composite pulse like a distinctive rumble. In a preferred embodiment, a number of pulse-type seismic sources, sometimes called an array, are fired in a distinctive composite pulse to be able to identify within the returning wavefield the energy resulting from the composite pulse. Firing the pulse-type sources creates an identifiable signature so that two or more marine seismic acquisition systems with source arrays can be acquiring seismic data concurrently and the peak energy delivered into the water will be less, which will reduce the irritation of seismic data acquisition to marine life. In addition, the composite pulse may be formulated by timing the firing of several of the sources with respect to energy emitted by “ringing” bubbles that attenuate within 100 to 300 ms to provide either or both of low frequency pulses and high frequency pulses to provide data for various processing and analysis of the data returned from the subsurface. On land, the complicating factor to be addressed is reverberation rather than bubbles. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120042690 | LNG FACILITY WITH INTEGRATED NGL RECOVERY FOR ENHANCED LIQUID RECOVERY AND PRODUCT FLEXIBILITY - Process for efficiently operating a natural gas liquefaction system with integrated heavies removal/natural gas liquids recovery to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) and/or natural gas liquids (NGL) products with varying characteristics, such as, for example higher heating value (HHV) and/or propane content. Resulting LNG and/or NGL products are capable of meeting the significantly different specifications of two or more markets. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120039150 | UNIQUE SEISMIC SOURCE ENCODING - The invention relates to the acquisition of seismic data using many seismic sources simultaneously or where the sources are emitting in an overlapping time frame but where it is desired to separate the data traces into source separated data traces. The key is having each seismic source emit a distinctive pattern of seismic energy that may all be discerned in the shot records of all of the seismic receivers. Distinctive patterns are preferably based on time/frequency pattern that is distinctive like an easily recognized song, but may include other subtle, but recognizable features such a phase differences, ancillary noise emissions, and physical properties of the vibes such a the weight and shape of the pad and the reaction mass and the performance of the hydraulic system and prime energy source. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120037446 | UNIFORM DISPLACEMENT SWEEP - This invention relates to operating a seismic vibrator to produce a uniform displacement sweep wherein the baseplate drive is connected to the baseplate and the baseplate is moved in an up and down or reciprocating pattern creating displacement of the earth. The reciprocating pattern and physical displacement of the baseplate and the ground in contact with the baseplate is maintained at a relatively constant distance over at least most of the frequencies that are delivered into the earth although a constant displacement of the baseplate at higher frequencies will require greater power. The high frequency energy is more significantly present in the data traces of the recorded return wavefield and shows that Q attenuation is not fully to blame for the relative absence of high frequency data but rather in failing to effectively deliver high frequency energy into the earth in the first place. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120037445 | METHOD FOR CREATING AN IMPROVED SWEEP FOR A SEISMIC SOURCE - An adapted seismic vibrator for obtaining a true ground force comprising: a baseplate pad; a baseplate drive system, wherein the drive system is connected to the baseplate pad and moves the baseplate pad up and down; a vibrator controller electronics, wherein the electronics are connected to the drive system and causes the drive system to move the baseplate pad up and down; and a plurality of load cell sensors disposed between the baseplate pad and ground, wherein the sensors measure the vibrator output force during a sweep. A method of obtaining a true ground force sweep comprising the steps of: using the load cell sensors to measure an actual output force of a seismic vibrator and electronics to obtain an actual ground force data; using inversion to invert the actual ground force data and desired original pilot sweep to obtain a revised pilot sweep that produces a true ground force sweep; and entering the true ground force sweep into the electronics. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120037444 | CONSTANT HOLDDOWN WEIGHT FOR VIBRATORY SEISMIC SOURCES - The invention relates to maintaining constant holddown force on the vibrator baseplate during actuation. The invention described measures the weight on the point of locomotion verses the baseplate and dynamically adjusts the forces required to keep the holddown force on the baseplate constant. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120037443 | SEISMIC TRANSDUCERS HAVING REDUCED SURFACE AREA BASEPLATES AND METHODS OF USE - Methods and systems are provided for inducing seismic energy waves in a subterranean formation. More particularly, improved seismic transducers are provided that comprise enhanced baseplates. Baseplates are provided that comprise an intermediate plate and a plurality of contact plates secured to the underside of the intermediate plate. The contact plates provide a surface area for engagement with the ground surface that is more limited than the lower surface area of the intermediate plate. Advantages of such baseplate enhancements include, but are not limited to, a reduction of baseplate harmonics or ringing and enhanced baseplate strength so as to reduce baseplate fatigue or failure, a reduction of baseplate flexure. These advantages ultimately translate to improved seismic surveys, having higher resolution of the formations surveyed and resulting in surveys reaching greater depths. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120037368 | CONTROLLED RELEASE PROPPANT - Materials are delivered into oil well reservoirs. Highly sensitive, mechanical, biological and chemical agents can be delivered to subterranean formations with rigid, impermeable capsules. A variety of treatments may be delivered to a subterranean formation. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120035896 | RESERVOIR UPSCALING METHOD WITH PRESERVED TRANSMISSIBILITY - The invention relates to methods for upscaling a three dimensional model. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present invention includes method for upscaling a three dimensional model by preserving transmissibility. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035853 | UNIQUE COMPOSITE RELATIVELY ADJUSTED PULSE - The invention relates to acquiring seismic data in either land or marine environments, but typically marine environments where a pulse-type source is fired in a distinctive composite pulse like a distinctive rumble. In a preferred embodiment, a number of pulse-type seismic sources, sometimes called an array, are fired in a distinctive composite pulse to be able to identify within the returning wavefield the energy resulting from the composite pulse. Firing the pulse-type sources creates an identifiable signature so that two or more marine seismic acquisition systems with source arrays can be acquiring seismic data concurrently and the peak energy delivered into the water will be less, which will reduce the irritation of seismic data acquisition to marine life. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035405 | METHOD FOR ENHANCED GAS HYDRATE PERMEABILITY - The present invention relates to an improved method for recovering hydrocarbons trapped in hydrate formations. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035404 | HYDROCARBONS FROM PYROLYSIS OIL - The present invention relates to a process for converting pyrolysis oil obtained by pyrolysis of biomass into fuel range hydrocarbon by alcoholysis of pyrolysis oil with subsequent hydrotreatment. The current invention provides straightforward methodology to prepare upgradable pyrolysis oil via alcoholysis. The invention uses hydrotreating technology for oxygen removal and hydrocarbon production. The resulting hydrocarbon products are 100% fungible with conventional transportation fuels. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035297 | REMEDIATION OF AGGLOMERATED FLOW IMPROVERS - The present embodiment can teach a method of feeding to a materials processor a mixture containing an agglomerated drag reducer. The mixture is then homogenized to produce a remediated drag reducer. The maximum particle size diameter of the agglomerated drag reducing polymer is at least 5% larger than the maximum particle diameter of the remediated drag reducer. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120033529 | OPTIMAL SOURCE SIGNATURE DETERMINATION - The invention relates to processing seismic data that includes signals from at least two sources and typically three or four sources where source separation is necessary for geophysical analysis. Specifically, the present invention is an analytical technique that quickly creates a more accurate source signature delivered by analysis of the source generated data contamination present in the separated data. The technique is to invert a segment of the data using a seed source signature and compute an error that reflects the generated data contamination observed in the separated source data. The source signature is iteratively revised as the segment is continually inverted with the goal of finding the optimal source signature that provides the lowest computed error. The source signature that provides the lowest error is, or is very close to, the true source signature and is then used in the separation process for the entire composite data set. This will provide much more information for geophysical interpretation. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120024758 | REFINERY DESALTER IMPROVEMENT - The invention relates to improved methods of desalting hydrocarbon feeds using a separator with a stacked disk centrifuge to separate an emulsified oil and water rag layer. This method is effective for desalting heavy, high ionic, and non-traditional crude oils. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120023810 | METAL IMPURITY AND HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT COMPONENTS REMOVAL OF BIOMASS DERIVED BIOCRUDE - This invention relates to a process for production of transportation fuels from biomass. More particularly, this invention relates to a process for using solvent to remove metal impurities and high molecular weight components from biomass derived biocrude to prevent potential catalyst poisoning and catalyst bed plugging in biocrude-to-transportation fuel upgrading process. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120022313 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SULFUR DISPOSAL - Methods and systems are provided for sulfur disposal through preparation of a micro-sized sulfur slurries. Micro-sized sulfur slurries are created for downhole disposal by forming sulfur particulates, which are then combined with a carrier fluid. The micro-sized sulfur slurries may be introduced to a subterranean formation, in some cases, to an unconsolidated sand formation by way of a dilation mechanism. Some embodiments comprise forming micro-sized sulfur slurries through a conversion process that converts molten sulfur to powder sulfur by gas cooling of atomized sprays of molten sulfur. Advantages of the embodiments disclosed herein as compared to many conventional methods include higher efficiencies, lower cost, and enhanced disposal of sulfur material. Furthermore, forming a micro-sized sulfur slurry allows for a more convenient form of transport. Additionally, high sulfur loading rates may be achieved, ultimately allowing for more economical sulfur transport. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120022305 | HYDROCRACKING PROCESS FOR MAKING RENEWABLE DIESEL FROM OILS AND/OR FATS - Methods for producing C3-C30 hydrocarbons from fatty materials, such as triglyceride compounds, are provided. Hydrocarbon compounds, particularly those boiling in the temperature range of between about 80° F. to about 1000° F., are produced by contacting a fatty material, under hydrocracking conditions, with at least one catalyst comprising a Group VIII metal and a Group VIB metal on a acidic support. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120018913 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONVERSION OF MOLTEN SULFUR TO POWDER SULFUR - Methods and systems are provided for converting molten sulfur to powder sulfur by gas cooling of atomized sprays of molten sulfur. Certain embodiments contemplate a vertical tower that allows molten sulfur to produce an atomized spray or mist of molten sulfur descending from the top of the vertical tower. Gas introduced to the bottom of the vertical tower flows upward intimately interfacing with the descending atomized molten sulfur spray. The molten sulfur in the form of an atomized sulfur spray is cooled by the gas to form a sulfur powder. In certain embodiments, the sulfur powder formed is sufficiently small to be suitable for combination with a base fluid for producing a slurry for convenient transport of the sulfur particulates. Advantages of certain embodiments include higher efficiencies, lower cost, and production of much smaller solid sulfur average particulate sizes, which in turn allows for easier sulfur transport. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120017685 | Ultrasonic Transducer System and Evaluation Methods - Methods and systems are provided for evaluating rock specimens subjected to high pressures and temperatures by ultrasonic evaluation utilizing various transducer enhancements. Certain embodiments contemplate configuring ultrasonic evaluation systems to provide more accurate measurements, enhanced protection of transducer elements, fewer metal interfaces between transducer elements and test specimens, and easier access to transducer elements for maintenance and replacement. Additionally, certain embodiments allow for sequential or simultaneous p-wave and s-wave measurements of a test specimen. These enhancements translate into a more accurate and efficient ultrasonic evaluation system offering higher resolution measurements. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120017496 | HYDROPROCESSING PROCESS WITH IMPROVED CATALYST ACTIVITY - This invention relates to a hydroprocessing process with improved catalyst activity when hydroprocessing petroleum based feedstock or an oxygen containing feedstock. This invention also relates to a hydrotreating process with improved hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity of a hydrotreating catalyst such as Co/Mo by co-feeding carbon monoxide or its precursors. Such inventive process confirms that adding a small amount of CO to H2 in a hydrotreater for a few days leads to an increase in product sulfur due to the inhibition of CO on the hydrotreating catalyst such as Co/Mo. However, it has been unexpectedly found that after the CO was removed from the hydrogen stream, product sulfur levels decreased to values below they were before CO addition which means the activity of the hydrotreating catalyst increased after the CO treatment. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120014213 | HIGH DENSITY SOURCE SPACING USING CONTINUOUS COMPOSITE RELATIVELY ADJUSTED PULSE - The invention relates to continuously or near continuously acquiring seismic data where at least one pulse-type source is fired in a distinctive sequence to create a series of pulses and to create a continuous or near continuous rumble. In a preferred embodiment, a number of pulse-type seismic sources are arranged in an array and are fired in a distinctive loop of composite pulses where the returning wavefield is source separable based on the distinctive composite pulses. Firing the pulse-type sources creates an identifiable loop of identifiable composite pulses so that two or more marine seismic acquisition systems with pulse-type seismic sources can acquire seismic data concurrently, continuously or near continuously and the peak energy delivered into the water will be less, which will reduce the irritation of seismic data acquisition to marine life. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120014212 | CONTINUOUS COMPOSITE RELATIVELY ADJUSTED PULSE - The invention relates to continuously or near continuously acquiring seismic data where at least one pulse-type source is fired in a distinctive sequence to create a series of pulses and to create a continuous or near continuous rumble. In a preferred embodiment, a number of pulse-type seismic sources are arranged in an array and are fired in a distinctive loop of composite pulses where the returning wavefield is source separable based on the distinctive composite pulses. Firing the pulse-type sources creates an identifiable loop of identifiable composite pulses so that two or more marine seismic acquisition systems with pulse-type seismic sources can acquire seismic data concurrently, continuously or near continuously and the peak energy delivered into the water will be less, which will reduce the irritation of seismic data acquisition to marine life. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120004344 | DRAG REDUCTION OF ASPHALTENIC CRUDE OILS - A method of producing treated liquid hydrocarbons. The method begins by pressurizing a latex in a pressure vessel. This is followed by flowing the latex from the pressure vessel into a pipeline containing liquid hydrocarbons to produce treated liquid hydrocarbons. In this embodiment the latex comprises a drag reducing polymer. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120004343 | DRAG REDUCTION OF ASPHALTENIC CRUDE OILS - A method begins by obtaining a slipstream of a liquid. The slipstream of liquid is then mixed upstream of an injection pump with a latex comprising a drag reducing polymer to produce a drag reducing mixture. The drag reducing mixture is then injected into a liquid hydrocarbon to produce a treated liquid hydrocarbon. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120002503 | Seismic Acquisition in Marine Environments Using Survey Paths Following a Series of Linked Deviated Paths and Methods of Use - Methods and systems are provided for acquiring seismic data in a marine environment using survey paths following a series of linked curved paths so as to obtain multi-azimuthal data over a sub-surface target. Marine vessels towing multiple seismic streamers may be configured to travel substantially along a series of linked deviated paths or a series of linked curved paths. Sources may be excited to introduce acoustic wave energy in the marine environment and into the subsea region. The acoustic wave energy then reflects and refracts from the subsea region to form reflected and refracted wave energy, which is detected by seismic receivers spaced along the streamers. The detected seismic data is then interpreted to reveal seismic information representative of the surveyed subsea region. Other enhancements include configuring the streamers in a flared configuration, where the lateral spacing increases rearwardly over the length of the seismic streamers. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120000820 | HYDROPROCESSING PROCESS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CATALYST LIFE - This invention relates to a hydroprocessing process for the improvement of catalyst life. Such inventive process is carried out with intermittent or discontinuous addition of a co-feed stream when hydroprocessing petroleum based feedstock or an oxygen containing feedstock. More specifically, it has been found that intermittent or discontinuous addition of the co-feed stream such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or their precursors to the hydrogen stream can reduce the long term deactivation, extend the life and increase run length of a cobalt/molybdenum hydrotreating catalyst. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120000544 | DRAG REDUCTION OF ASPHALTENIC CRUDE OILS - The process begins by obtaining a first batch of monomers selected from a group of acrylates with a molecular weight equal to or less than butyl acrylate and/or methacrylate with a molecular weight equal to or less than butyl methacrylate. A second batch of monomers is then selected from a group of acrylates with a molecular weight greater than butyl acrylate and/or methacrylate with a molecular weight greater than butyl methacrylate. A mixture is then prepared by mixing the first batch of monomers and the second batch of monomers, wherein the second batch of monomers are greater than 50% by weight of the mixture. Finally, the mixture is polymerized to produce a drag reducing polymer. The drag reducing polymer is capable of imparting drag reducing properties in liquid hydrocarbons. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20110308996 | METHODOLOGY TO DETERMINE FEED QUALITY (DI+RING AROMATIC CONTENT) OF FCC AND HYDROCRACKING FEEDS - A method of upgrading naphtha and diesel yields from fluid catalytic cracking and hydrocracking units by improving a feed quality of a petroleum feedstock, product or fraction mixture. The method of improving the feed quality of the petroleum feedstock, product or fraction mixture occurs by first determining the API Gravity of a petroleum feedstock, product or fraction mixture. A temperature at which about fifty percent of the petroleum feedstock, product or fraction boils (T | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110308790 | IN SITU METHANOGENESIS MODELING AND RISK ANALYSIS - This invention generally relates to natural gas and methylotrophic energy generation, bio-generated fuels and microbiology. In alternative embodiments, the invention provides nutrient amendments and microbial compositions that are both specifically optimized to stimulate methanogenesis, or “methylotrophic” conversion. Additionally, the invention provides methods to develop nutrient amendments and microbial compositions that are both specifically optimized to stimulate methanogenesis in a given reservoir. The invention also provides methods for the evaluation of potentially damaging biomass formation and scale precipitation resulting from the addition of nutrient amendments. In another embodiment, the invention provides methods for simulating biogas in sub-surface conditions using a computational model. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110308543 | METHOD FOR CLEANING POROUS METALLIC FILTERS USING A STEAM-ULTRASONIC TECHNIQUE - A method of cleaning plugged or dirty porous metallic filter elements to regain filter activity, comprising the steps of: steaming a filter element for a first period of time; submerging the filter element in a first solution; and exposing the first solution to ultrasound waves for a second period of time. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110305113 | SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION USING DESIGNED NON-UNIFORM RECEIVER SPACING - The invention relates to an arrangement for seismic acquisition the spacing between each adjacent pairs of receiver and sources lines is not all the same. Some receiver and/or source lines and/or receiver and/or source spacings are larger and some are smaller to provide a higher quality wavefield reconstruction when covering a larger total area or for a similar total area of seismic data acquisition while providing a wavefield that is optimally sampled by the receivers and sources so that the wavefield reconstruction is suitable for subsurface imaging needs. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110305107 | FLARING METHODOLOGIES FOR MARINE SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION - A method of determining an optimal flare spacing for streamers towed behind a seismic vessel comprising the steps of: using a computer specially adapted with a seismic data analysis package to analyze prior seismic data for a survey area; analyzing migration broadcast patterns to estimate a maximum sampling distance; calculating a wavelet expansion as a function of flare spacing; creating synthetic gaps in the prior seismic data coverage by dropping traces at different flare spacing; testing capability of different interpolation algorithms in the seismic data analysis package to close the synthetic gaps; and determining an optimal flare spacing based upon the capability of the different interpolation algorithms to close the synthetic gaps. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110305106 | MARINE SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION USING DESIGNED NON-UNIFORM STREAMER SPACING - The invention relates to an arrangement for seismic streamers used in the acquisition of seismic data in a marine environment where the spacing between each adjacent pair of streamers is not all the same. Some streamer spacings and/or receiver spacings are larger and some are smaller to provide a higher quality wavefield reconstruction when covering a larger total area or for a similar total area of seismic data acquisition while providing a wavefield that is optimally sampled by the receivers so that the wavefield reconstruction is suitable for subsurface imaging needs. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110301866 | Detection and Quantification of Gas Mixtures in Subterranean Formations - Methods and systems are provided for quantifying contributions of gas mixtures in a reservoir compartment by way of isotopic analyses. Differing thermal maturities of the different gas mixtures allow estimation of the relative quantity of each gas mixture present in a total gas mixture. Thermal maturities may be estimated by reference to isotopic analyses of each contributing gas mixture and a commingled gas mixture resulting from commingling each of the individual source gas mixtures. This method may be carried out at various depths to determine relative contributions of each gas mixture to the total gas mixture as a function of wellbore depth. Advantages of certain embodiments include, but are not limited to, higher accuracies and ease of application as compared to conventional methods. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110297616 | SELENIUM REMOVAL METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Described herein is a cost effective means for selenium recovery and refining relying on an impregnated substrate. The substrate is impregnated with selenium and provides a system and method for the environmentally safe discharge of previous selenium-contaminated solutions and an environmentally safe discharge of industrial waste water. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110297370 | HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION ALLOCATION METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Methods and systems are provided for allocating production among reservoir compartments by way of compositional and isotopic analyses. That is, where individual reservoir compartments contribute differing amounts of fluid to a commingled production stream, the methods herein determine the relative contribution of fluid volume from each reservoir compartment. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110296991 | HEAVY METAL REMOVAL METHODS AND SYSTEMS - A support impregnated with selenium and capable of effectively removing a heavy metal from a process stream that is at an ambient temperature or is at an elevated temperature. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110291862 | ICE DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM - Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) collect and transmit information about ice floes with respect to their areal extent, vertical underwater profile, thickness, density, location, speed, direction and other properties to determine the possible trajectory of the ice floe. This information is used to alert drilling platforms in icy ocean conditions of pending ice floe dangers. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110282635 | STOCHASTIC DOWNSCALING ALGORITHM AND APPLICATIONS TO GEOLOGICAL MODEL DOWNSCALING - A computer-aided method of downscaling a three-dimensional geological model by generating numerical stochastic fine-scale models conditioning to data of different scales and capturing spatial uncertainties which involves a downscaling algorithm. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110282584 | SHALE ANALYSIS METHODS - Methods and systems are provided for rapidly estimating the hydrocarbon production potential of a subsurface hydrocarbon shale prospect or prospects. In short, the methods disclosed herein provide rapid mechanisms to determine sorbed gas storage of a shale reservoir with minimal delay and resource expenditure to aid operators in determining which prospects to exploit. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110272206 | MATRIX GROUND FORCE MEASUREMENT OF SEISMIC TRANSDUCERS AND METHODS OF USE - Methods and systems are provided for inducing seismic vibrations into an elastic medium such as subterranean formations. The methods and systems utilize seismic transducers having a sensor matrix for measurement of baseplate force distributions. Certain embodiments include a sensor matrix that is configured to measure a distribution of discrete force measurements across the surface area of the baseplate. Advantages of including such sensor matrices include a more accurate prediction of seismic transducer energy output. That is, these measurements can be used as feedback to adjust the operation of the seismic transducer. Additionally, these force measurements may be used to provide for a better interpretation of gathered seismic data. These advantages ultimately translate to improved seismic surveys, having higher resolution of the formations surveyed and reaching greater depths. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110266135 | SULFUR DEGASSING PROCESS - A process is disclosed for removing hydrogen sulfide from liquid sulfur including: passing a liquid sulfur feed comprising liquid sulfur and hydrogen sulfide to a vaporizer; vaporizing at least a portion of the liquid sulfur feed in the vaporizer to thereby form a first vapor stream comprising gaseous sulfur and gaseous hydrogen sulfide; partially condensing the first vapor stream in a condenser to form a liquid product stream comprising liquid sulfur and a second vapor stream comprising hydrogen sulfide; wherein the liquid product stream has a lower concentration of hydrogen sulfide than the liquid sulfur feed. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110263916 | CARBOHYDRATES UPGRADING AND HYDROTREATING TO HYDROCARBONS - Technologies to convert biomass to liquid hydrocarbon fuels are currently being developed to decrease our carbon footprint and increase use of renewable fuels. Since sugars/sugar derivatives from biomass have high oxygen content and low hydrogen content, coke becomes an issue during zeolite upgrading to liquid hydrocarbon fuels. A process was designed to reduce the coke by co-feeding sugars/sugar derivatives with a saturated recycle stream containing hydrogenated products. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110263915 | PROCESS FOR UPGRADING HYDROCARBONS - A process for upgrading hydrocarbons comprising removal of C5 hydrocarbons from a feedstock, metathesizing said C5 hydrocarbons to C6+ and C4− hydrocarbons, and upgrading said C4− hydrocarbons is disclosed absent any dehydrogenation. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110259586 | WATER TREATMENT USING A DIRECT STEAM GENERATOR - The present method produces treated water from a direct steam generator. The method begins by injecting water into a direct steam generator. The injected water is then vaporized with the direct steam generator to produce steam and an effluent stream. The combustible water impurities in the water are then combusted inside a chamber in the direct steam generator and the solid particles are removed from the effluent stream to produce a treated stream. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110259585 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110256489 | BURNER NOZZLE - A burner comprises a body, a nozzle, and at least one attachment element for removably attaching the nozzle to the body. The body defines an oxidant inlet, a feedstock inlet, a body outlet, and one or more passages for conveying the oxidant from the oxidant inlet to the body outlet and for conveying the gasification feedstock from the feedstock inlet to the body outlet. The nozzle defines a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet, wherein the nozzle inlet is configured to receive the oxidant and the gasification feedstock from the body outlet and the nozzle outlet is configured to discharge the oxidant and the gasification feedstock into the reaction chamber. The at least one attachment element removably attaches the nozzle to the body such that the nozzle inlet is in fluid flow communication with the body outlet when the nozzle is attached to the body. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110256449 | ORGANIC COATED FINE PARTICLE POWDERS - Solid organic matter coated fine solid particles and the applications of such coated particles are described. These uniformly coated carbonaceous particles provide an improved material for use as an electrochemical material. In one example, methods of manufacturing uniformly coated particles from lignin and graphite are described. In another embodiment, petroleum pitch coated calcined coke powder is demonstrated. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110253370 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110253369 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110253368 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat solvent within a subterranean region wherein the heated solvent, vapor, contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110253367 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110253363 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110253362 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110250348 | METHODS OF MAKING CARBONACEOUS PARTICLES - Methods and apparatus relate to preparing particles for use as electrode material in batteries. Wet attrition milling provides the particles sized as desired. Pre-milling with a jet mill, for example, may occur prior to the wet attrition milling. Further, adding a soluble carbon-residue-forming material to a suspension before and/or after the wet attrition milling can facilitate the wet attrition milling and/or enable in-line coating via procedures causing precipitation of the carbon-residue-forming material onto the particles that are sized. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110250121 | AMMONIA SALTS AS REGENERABLE CO2 SORBENTS - The present method describes the absorbing and desorbing of a gaseous reactant on a solid reactant. The solid reactant is an ammonia salt selected from the group consisting of alkali ammonium salts, alkali ammonium earth salts or a combination thereof. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110248212 | METHODS OF PREPARING CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL - Methods and apparatus relate to methods of making carbonaceous material or coating from a precursor. Oxidation of hydrocarbons forming the precursor occurs upon adding an oxidation agent to a mixture of the precursor and a solvent for the precursor. The oxidation of the hydrocarbons yields constituents that are insoluble in the solvent and may not melt. The constituents that are insoluble in the solvent may further coat solid particles, if the solid particles are provided in the mixture. Carbonization of solids recovered by separation from liquids in the mixture increases carbon weight percent of the constituents that are insoluble in the solvent. The methods result in products that provide the carbonaceous material or coating and are suitable for use in electrodes. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110237851 | THERMAL CRACKING OF IMPURITIES IN TRIGLYCERIDE FEEDSTOCK - A triglyceride or a triglyceride/hydrocarbon combination can be thermally cracked to remove its impurities in situ prior to be upgraded to fuel range hydrocarbon. This process allows the use of a variety of low cost feedstock and reduce reactor fouling tendency. The process also reduces the use of chemicals required for conventional clean up processes such as degumming. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110232903 | ENHANCED BITUMEN RECOVERY USING HIGH PERMEABILITY PATHWAYS - Methods are provided for enhancing recovery of heavy oil from oil sand reservoirs through the creation of subsurface high permeability pathways distributed throughout the oil sand reservoirs. The high permeability pathways may be boreholes that extend through the oil sand reservoir. A portion of the high permeability pathway may be packed with high permeability particulate to provide structural support and allow for high permeability throughout the boreholes. After establishing the high permeability pathways throughout the oil sand reservoir, solvent may be introduced into the oil sand reservoir. The solvent has the beneficial effect of lowering the viscosity of the heavy oil, which aids in the extraction of the heavy oil. Thermal recovery processes and other enhancements may be combined with these methods to aid in reducing the viscosity of the heavy oil. Advantages of these methods include, accelerated hydrocarbon recovery, higher production efficiencies, lower costs, and lower extraction times. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110230572 | Water-Forming Hydrogenation Reactions Utilizing Enhanced Catalyst Supports and Methods of Use - Improved reaction efficiencies are achieved by the incorporation of enhanced hydrothermally stable catalyst supports in various water-forming hydrogenation reactions or reactions having water-containing feeds. Examples of water-forming hydrogenation reactions that may incorporate the enhanced hydrothermally stable catalyst supports include alcohol synthesis reactions, dehydration reactions, hydrodeoxygenation reactions, methanation reactions, catalytic combustion reaction, hydrocondensation reactions, and sulfur dioxide hydrogenation reactions. Advantages of the methods disclosed herein include an improved resistance of the catalyst support to water poisoning and a consequent lower rate of catalyst attrition and deactivation due to hydrothermal instability. Accordingly, higher efficiencies and yields may be achieved by extension of the enhanced catalyst supports to one or more of the aforementioned reactions. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110215056 | THIOSULFATE REMOVAL METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Described herein is a cost effective method and system for removal of thiosulfate from a solution in-line with a process system. The method and system include passing the solution in contact with an open-structured substrate impregnated with a Group 16 element, which results in removal of thiosulfate from the solution and conversion of the thiosulfate to at least sulfite. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110204000 | METHOD FOR REMOVING SELENIUM FROM WATER - There is provided a method for removing selenium from an aqueous influent, comprising: adding a water-soluble reducing agent to an aqueous influent containing an oxidized selenium compound (Se | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110203993 | TREATMENT STAGES FOR SELENIUM REMOVAL - Methods and apparatus relate to treating fluid to at least reduce selenium content within the fluid. The treating includes conditioning stages to alter a composition of the fluid prior to removal of the selenium content from the fluid. The composition of the fluid after the conditioning stages facilitates the removal of the selenium content or at least limits detrimental impact to selenium removal efficiency. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110198148 | SEISMIC TRANSDUCERS AND BASEPLATES HAVING EXTERNAL DAMPENERS AND METHODS OF USE - Methods and systems are provided for inducing seismic vibrations into subterranean formations. Seismic transducers may comprise a frame, a reaction mass, a driver, and a baseplate. The driver actuates the reaction mass, imparting a vibratory energy to the baseplate. This vibratory energy is then imparted directly to the ground surface to propagate seismic waves into the formation. These seismic waves are then reflected by subsurface geological features. The reflected seismic waves may then be detected and interpreted by seismic detectors to reveal seismic information representative of the surveyed region. An external dampener may be secured to the baseplate, which provide, among other benefits, a damping effect to the baseplate. Advantages include, reduced undesirable baseplate harmonic distortion or “ringing,” reduced baseplate decoupling, and reduced seismic noise due to flexure reduction and more uniform baseplate-to-ground conformance. These advantages ultimately translate to improved seismic surveys, having higher formation resolution and reaching greater depths. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110198147 | SEISMIC TRANSDUCERS HAVING IMPROVED POLYGONAL BASEPLATES AND METHODS OF USE - Methods and systems are provided for inducing seismic energy waves in a subterranean formation. More specifically, seismic transducers are provided that incorporate enhanced seismic baseplates. In certain embodiments, baseplates comprise certain enhancements such as having a perimeter in the shape of a polygon, such as, a hexagon or an octagon. In other embodiments, the perimeter of the baseplate may take the form of a polygon having n sides, where n is any integer greater than 4. Advantages of such baseplate enhancements include, but are not limited to, a reduction of baseplate harmonics or ringing, enhanced baseplate strength so as to reduce baseplate fatigue or failure, a reduction of baseplate flexure, and a consequent reduction of baseplate weight resulting in a more responsive baseplate. These advantages ultimately translate to improved seismic surveys, having higher resolution of the formations surveyed and resulting in surveys reaching greater depths. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110198081 | HYDROCARBON RECOVERY ENHANCEMENT METHODS USING LOW SALINITY CARBONATED BRINES AND TREATMENT FLUIDS - Methods and systems are provided for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery by the use of treatment fluids comprising low salinity carbonated water. Certain embodiments comprise forming a carbonated aqueous solution formed of either fresh water or low salinity water and introducing the carbonated aqueous solution into a formation to enhance hydrocarbon recovery from the formation. Low salinity brines may be used in lieu of or in combination with the foregoing fresh water. The carbonated water or low salinity carbonated brine may be introduced as a treatment fluid through a secondary well and used to provide a motive force to sweep the hydrocarbons towards one or more production wells. The carbonated water may be produced at a well site through a desalination process that uses naturally occurring brine as its feed. Among other advantages, using fresh water or law salinity brines is advantageous in that it allows a higher concentration of carbon dioxide to be dissolved in the water, which, as described herein, enhances hydrocarbon recovery. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110197925 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DERIMING CRYOGENIC EQUIPMENT - The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for liquefying natural gas. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110195364 | AUTOMATED FLARE CONTROL - Methods and apparatus relate to control of smoke suppressant flow rate to a flare that disposes of combustible gas, such as waste from refineries and chemical plants. One or more detectors produce signals that enable separate monitoring of both particulate emissions from the flare and combustion efficiency of the flare. Adjusting the flow rate of the smoke suppressant to the flare in response to such dual monitoring facilitates operation of the flare so as to manage environmental pollution caused by unburned volatile organic compounds and smoke emitted from the flare. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110194105 | OIL IN WATER ANALYZER - An oil in water analyzer for measuring the concentration of hydrocarbons in an effluent stream. The oil in water analyzer has a valve system for acquiring a sample from an effluent stream. An extraction device is used for mixing a known volume of a solvent and the sample to produce a hydrocarbon/solvent mixture. A second valve is used for transporting the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture to a spectroscopic cell. It is at the spectroscopic cell where the concentration of hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture is evaluated. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110193017 | AUTOCLAVE REACTOR HEATING ASSEMBLY AND METHODS - Methods and systems relate to temperature control of autoclave reactor based reactions. The systems include an autoclave reactor vessel and a heater disposed external to the vessel with the heater and the vessel movable relative to one another using an actuator device. Operating the actuator device displaces the heater further from the vessel when desired to cool the reactor vessel, such as when quenching the reactions. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110192730 | ELECTROCOAGULATION FOR REMOVAL OF DISSOLVED ORGANICS FROM WATER - A method of reducing naphthenic acids in a wastewater stream. The method begins by processing the wastewater stream to produce a treated wastewater stream with an electrocoagulation device to induce flocculation of the naphthenic acids. The reduction of the naphthenic acids in the wastewater stream occurs from separating flocculated naphthenic acids to produce the treated wastewater stream. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110191080 | MULTILEVEL PERCOLATION AGGREGATION SOLVER FOR PETROLEUM RESERVOIR SIMULATIONS - An efficient percolation aggregation solver methodology captures media connectivity and continuity to reliably incorporate relevant flow solution trends in subterranean formation models. The approach allows introduction of meaningful physical information that is generally overlooked by state-of-the-art algebraic algorithms in the solution process. Percolation aggregation extends the efficiency and robustness of solution methods used to solve scientific and engineering problems. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110186441 | ELECTROLYTIC RECOVERY OF RETAINED CARBON DIOXIDE - Methods and apparatus relate to capturing carbon dioxide. A solution formed from metal ions combined with an amine reagent absorbs carbon dioxide from gas introduced into the solution. Subsequent electrolysis of the solution results in dissociation of complexes formed upon the carbon dioxide being absorbed. The electrolysis thus liberates the carbon dioxide for capture and regenerates the solution for reuse. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110186292 | PROCESSES OF RECOVERING RESERVES WITH STEAM AND CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION - Methods and systems relate to recovering petroleum products from an underground reservoir. Injection of steam along with carbon dioxide into the reservoir facilitates the recovering, which is further influenced by operating pressure for the injection. Absorption of the carbon dioxide by the products and heat transfer from the steam to the products act to reduce viscosity of the products in order to aid flowing of the products. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110184121 | MINIEMULSION POLYMERIZATION TO PREPARE DRAG REDUCERS - A method of producing a polymer latex drag reducer. The method begins by forming an aqueous solution comprising a surfactant, a buffer and water. The method then forms an organic solution comprising a monomer and a co-stabilizer. The aqueous solution and the organic solution are mixed to form an emulsion. The emulsion is then subjecting to a high shear device to produce a miniemulsion, wherein the monomers are broken into small droplets followed by polymerizing the miniemulsion with the addition of an initiator, wherein a nucleation occurs in the small monomer droplets. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110182778 | GASIFICATION SYSTEM AND PROCESS WITH STAGED SLURRY ADDITION - A system and process for gasifying carbonaceous feedstock with staged slurry addition in order to prevent the formation of tar that causes deposition problems. Dry solid carbonaceous material is partially combusted, then pyrolysed along with a first slurry stream comprising carbonaceous material in two separate reactor sections, thereby producing mixture products comprising synthesis gas. The second slurry stream comprising particulate carbonaceous material is fed to a drying unit downstream of a heat recovery zone along with the mixture product exiting the heat recovery zone The resulting final temperature of the second stage mixture products and dried particulate carbonaceous material is between 450° F. and 550° F., a temperature range that is typically not conducive to the emission of heavy molecular-weight tar species. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110168947 | PRODUCING LOW METHANE SYNGAS FROM A TWO-STAGE GASIFIER - The present disclosure relates generally to a method for obtaining synthesis gas from a gasifier that has a low methane content. The synthesis gas is obtained as an extraction gas from the quench section of the gasifier, and can be utilized as feedstock for a variety of chemical production processes without the need for expensive pre-treatment to remove methane. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110162841 | Continuous Slow Dissolving Chemical Treatment for Oil and Gas Wells - The invention relates to dispensing slow release chemicals for inhibiting the formation of scale, corrosion or other precipitates in hydrocarbon wells. The chemical is provided into a dispenser positioned for at least nearly continuous exposure to liquid preferably in the active water phase. The active water phase is generally just below the inlet into production tubing. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110160313 | Recycling Methane-Rich Purge Gas to Gasifier - A process for improving the overall carbon conversion efficiency of a gasification process, as well as improving the suitability of a syngas containing 0.5-10% methane for use as a feedstock for chemical production. A gasification reactor converts carbonaceous feedstock to syngas that is, in turn, utilized for a chemical production process in a chemical production reactor. An off-gas from this chemical production reactor is directed to a selective membrane that separates the off-gas into methane-rich and hydrogen-rich fractions. The hydrogen-rich fraction, is re-utilized as feedstock for the chemical production process, while the methane-enriched fraction is returned to the gasification reactor to form additional syngas. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110152588 | PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBON FROM HIGH FREE FATTY ACID CONTAINING FEEDSTOCKS - There is provided a process for converting high free fatty acid containing feedstock such as acidulated soapstock into hydrocarbon compound especially fuel range hydrocarbons using amidation as a pretreatment step followed by hydroprocessing. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110152513 | CONVERSION OF CARBOHYDRATES TO HYDROCARBONS - Materials and processes for the conversion of carbohydrates and polyols to gasoline boiling range hydrocarbons. Carbohydrates and polyols are reacted in the presence of modified zeolite catalysts to form a reaction product containing non-aromatic and aromatic gasoline boiling range hydrocarbons. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110147666 | FLUX ADDITION AS A FILTER CONDITIONER - Improvements in a gasification system and process for gasifying carbonaceous feedstock with improved energy efficiency. Improved methods and systems for more efficient removal of particulates from a raw synthesis gas while simultaneously providing a novel mechanism for fluxing agent addition to the gasification reactor. A conditioning agent, in the form of coarse fluxing agent particles, is added to the raw synthesis gas upstream from the particle filtration unit. The conditioning agent allows more rapid turnaround of the filtration unit following filter element replacement, extend filter life, facilitates the removal of filter cake from the particle filters, and combines with removed filter cake for recycling to the gasifier. Addition of fluxing agent via this route eliminates the need to premix fluxing agent with the carbonaceous feedstock, thereby maximizing the rate of feedstock addition to the gasification reactor. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110144913 | SOURCE ROCK VOLUMETRIC ANALYSIS - An empirical method of measuring water saturation in hydrocarbon bearing formations is described. The system described herein accurately calculates water saturation, formation volume, total organic carbon, and other formation parameters under a variety of formation conditions. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110144396 | PROCESS FOR CONVERTING BIOMASS TO HYDROCARBONS AND OXYGENATES - The present invention relates to a process for converting biomass to hydrocarbons and oxygenates. The process may include providing a biomass feedstock and de-oxygenating the biomass feedstock to form a solid-intermediate. The process may further include liquefaction of the solid intermediate, which may be carried out either by rapid heating followed by condensation or by liquefying by applying high pressure. The liquefaction of the solid intermediate may produce a mixture of hydrocarbons and oxygenates, which is generally termed as biocrude. Further, the biocrude is processed by one or more refining means for production of hydrocarbons that can be used as fuel. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110139456 | Controlled Fracture Initiation Stress Packer - A method for selective placement, initiation and propagation of a hydraulically induced fracture in an open wellbore. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110138854 | FRACTIONATION OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE RICH SOUR GAS AND METHODS OF USE - Methods and systems are provided for treating hydrogen sulfide rich sour gas through a series of fractionation columns. The processes disclosed herein and the variations thereof provide optimized processes for the removal of hydrogen sulfide from sour gas through the introduction of innovative azeotrope breakers, novel configurations of process equipment, and optimized operating conditions. Advantages of certain embodiments of the present invention include reduced equipment requirements, improved process efficiencies, reduced operating costs, and reduced capital costs. Other advantages include better process suitability to certain environmental conditions such as the arctic cold when compared to conventional amine treatment processes. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110131020 | DIP GUIDED FULL WAVEFORM INVERSION - A method of determining seismic data velocity models comprising dip-guided full waveform inversion that obtains a better velocity model with less computational requirements. DG-FWI quickly converges to provide a better image, obtains better amplitudes, and relies less on lower frequencies. Improved image quality allows detailed seismic analyses, accurate identification of lithological features, and imaging near artifacts and other anomalies. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110128818 | EXTRACTION OF DISCRETE RECORDS FROM CONTINUOUS SEISMIC RECORDINGS - An adaptive signal separation is provided that isolates signal data and listening data from multiple continuous overlapping seismic signals. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110127033 | SINGLE WELL DUAL/MULTIPLE HORIZONTAL FRACTURE STIMULATION FOR OIL PRODUCTION - A method of producing oil which begins by drilling, casing and inserting a tubing string in a wellbore. The method then perforates both an upper portion and a lower portion of the casing to establish communication between the wellbore with a upper horizontal fracture and a lower horizontal fracture. A retrievable packer or a seal assembly is inserted horizontally between the tubing string and the casing and vertically between the upper horizontal fracture and the lower horizontal fracture for heat isolation. Steam is then injected into the wellbore both into the upper horizontal fracture and the lower horizontal fracture. Heavy oil is then produced from the lower horizontal fracture while injecting steam into the upper horizontal fracture | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110126449 | BLENDED FUEL COMPOSITION HAVING IMPROVED COLD FLOW PROPERTIES - There is provided a fuel composition comprising petroleum based component and a renewable based component, wherein at least 20% of the compounds in said petroleum based component having boiling point range equal or greater than the boiling point of said renewable based component. | 06-02-2011 |
| 20110124931 | PROCESS TO MITIGATE THE CORROSION OF OILS/FATS - It has been discovered that the residence time of oils/fats in metal apparatus, particularly in the upstream of a hydrotreating unit, for example, a heat exchanger and/or a storage/feed tank, can impact significantly on corrosiveness of oils/fats in combination with and without conventional hydrocarbons. In addition, it is also found that the presence of hydrogen in the metal apparatus can also inhibit the corrosion rate of oils/fats. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110124751 | SULFIDED FISCHER-TROPSCH CATALYST - Methods and compositions relate to a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst utilized to convert syngas into paraffins. The catalyst includes a given amount of sulfur content from contact of a catalytic supported metal with sulfur. Subsequent activation of the catalyst prepares the catalyst to be used for conversion of the syngas. The sulfur content maintained in the catalyst after being activated influences selectivity to paraffins over olefins and oxygenates. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110120717 | GENERATION OF FLUID FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY - Methods and apparatus relate to recovering petroleum products from underground reservoirs. The recovering of the petroleum products relies on introduction of heat and solvent into the reservoirs. Supplying water and then solvent for hydrocarbons in direct contact with combustion of fuel and oxidant generates a stream suitable for injection into the reservoir in order to achieve such thermal and solvent based recovery. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110120710 | IN SITU HEATING FOR RESERVOIR CHAMBER DEVELOPMENT - Methods and apparatus relate to systems and methods of recovering oil from a formation. In operation, a steam chamber develops as a result of steam injection into the formation and the recovery of fluids including the oil through a production well. An auxiliary well spaced in a lateral direction from the production well helps ensure development of the steam chamber as desired. The auxiliary well may enable heating of the formation through establishing an electric potential between the auxiliary well and the production well or by resistive heating of material forming the auxiliary well. Further, the auxiliary well may provide a flow path for solvent or gas injection to facilitate the recovery through the production well. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110120709 | STEAM-GAS-SOLVENT (SGS) PROCESS FOR RECOVERY OF HEAVY CRUDE OIL AND BITUMEN - Methods relate to a steam-gas-solvent (SGS) process for recovery of heavy crude oil and bitumen. The methods include injecting a steam-gas-solvent mixture to mobilize hydrocarbons in a formation and producing from the formation the hydrocarbons that are mobilized. The steam-gas-solvent mixture includes steam, a gas non-condensable under reservoir operating conditions and a solvent condensable under reservoir operating conditions. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110120708 | COAL BED METHANE RECOVERY - Methods relate to recovering coal bed methane. In-situ heating of coal facilitates desorption and diffusion of the methane for production of the methane through a wellbore. Water within fractures of the coal forms an electrical conduit through which current is passed. The heating relies at least in part on resistivity of the water, which thereby preheats the coal for the recovering of the methane. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110119040 | ATTRIBUTE IMPORTANCE MEASURE FOR PARAMETRIC MULTIVARIATE MODELING - Parametric Bayesian Updating method is described for attribute importance measures. AIM is a quantitative measure of the relative importance of multiple attributes used in a Bayesian Updating parametric multivariate modeling approach. The AIM is a function of the correlation coefficients between the attributes themselves and the attributes with collocated target variable. The importance calculation is straightforward, repeatable, and objective. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110117004 | LIQUID-PHASE CHEMICAL LOOPING ENERGY GENERATOR - A closed loop combustion system for the combustion of fuels using a molten metal oxide bed. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110098368 | CONTROLLING SYNTHESIS OF METAL SULFIDE CATALYSTS - Methods and apparatus relate to catalysts and preparation of the catalysts, which are defined by sulfides of a transition metal, such as one of molybdenum, tungsten, and vanadium. Precipitation forms the catalysts and occurs in a slurry media in which the pH is adjusted. Exemplary uses of the catalysts include packing for a methanation reactor that converts carbon monoxide and hydrogen into methane. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110094739 | OIL RECOVERY PROCESS - A method for recovering heavy oil in a stratum with an injection well, a production well and a steam generator. The method begins by injecting steam from the steam generator into a horizontal portion of the injection well followed by soaking the stratum with the steam from the injection well for a predetermined period of time; and producing heavy oil from the stratum with the production well. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110094735 | Completion Method for Horizontal Wells In In Situ Combustion - An underground reservoir is provided comprising an injection well and a production well. The production well has a horizontal section oriented generally perpendicularly to a generally linear and laterally extending, upright combustion front propagated from the injection well. The method relates to controlling location of inflow into a production well during in situ combustion. The horizontal section of the production well includes blocking agents to prevent well failure. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110087060 | SUGAR ALCOHOL SPLIT INJECTION CONVERSION - A method of hydrotreating liquefied biomass feedstock with diesel feedstock to produce alkanes is demonstrated that prevents damage to the reactor catalyst, reduces coke production, and converts nearly all of the polyols to alkanes. In order to mitigate the potential coking issue and to moderate the temperature of the catalyst bed while maintaining high conversion for sugar alcohol to hydrocarbon via a hydrotreating process, a diesel feedstock is fed over the reactor catalyst with multiple injections of polyol feedstock along the reactor. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110077436 | PRETREATMENT OF OILS AND/OR FATS - Disclosed are methods for pretreating triglyceride containing material prior to contacting with a hydrotreating catalyst to produce fuel range hydrocarbons without causing reactor fouling or catalyst plugging. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110073319 | DOUBLE STRING PUMP FOR HYDROCARBON WELLS - The invention relates to a double string pump for pumping liquids to the surface of a hydrocarbon well and especially a hydrocarbon well that is producing both natural gas and liquid fluids. The double string pump includes a hollow tube that raises and lowers the plunger and carries the liquids to the surface and an outer tube receives liquids down into the well to lubricate the moving parts and flush particles from areas prone to wear and back toward the production tube. The natural gas is produced through the annulus between wellbore casing and the outer production tubing string. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110073318 | PRODUCING GAS AND LIQUID FROM BELOW A PERMANENT PACKER IN A HYDROCARBON WELL - The invention relates to an arrangement for positively pumping liquids to the surface of a hydrocarbon well where the hydrocarbon well has bee previously completed with a permanent packer and tailpipe. A rod pump having a plunger connected to a hollow rod string can positively pump the liquids collecting at the bottom of the well while the natural gas is produced up the annulus between the production tubing and the hollow rod string. In this invention, the tail pipe is perforated above the rod pump and below the packer to all the natural gas into the production tubing. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110073317 | SLIM HOLE PRODUCTION SYSTEM - The invention relates to a slim hole production system for pumping liquids to the surface of a hydrocarbon well and especially a hydrocarbon well that is producing both natural gas and liquid liquids where the diameter of the hole in the production area is too small to get production tubing and a sucker rod into a productive arrangement. The slim hole pump includes a hollow tube that raises and lowers the plunger and carries the liquids to the surface and uses the annulus to produce the gas. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110070498 | ANODE MATERIAL FOR HIGH POWER LITHIUM ION BATTERIES - A battery with a carbonaceous anode and a lithium manganese oxide spinel cathode. The carbonaceous anode is manufactured from graphite particles selected from the group consisting of: synthetic graphite particles, carbon-coated graphite particles, carbonized petroleum coke particles, carbon-coated coke particles and mixtures thereof. The lithium manganese oxide spinel cathode has a valence above 3.5. The production of the carbonaceous anode is obtained by: | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110068059 | MERCURY REMOVAL WITH SORBENTS MAGNETICALLY SEPARABLE FROM TREATED FLUIDS - Methods and apparatus relate to treatment of fluids to remove mercury contaminants in the fluid. Contact of the fluid with active outer surfaces of particles magnetically separable from the fluid loads the particles with the mercury contaminants. Magnetic separation then removes from the fluid the particles loaded with the mercury contaminants such that a treated product remains. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110068048 | MERCURY REMOVAL WITH AMINE SORBENTS - Methods and apparatus relate to treatment of fluids to remove mercury contaminants in the fluid. Contact of the fluid with an amine that has absorbed a sulfur compound causes the mercury contaminants to be absorbed by the amine. Phase separation then removes from the fluid the amine loaded with the mercury contaminants such that a treated product remains. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110068046 | MERCURY REMOVAL FROM WATER - Methods and apparatus relate to removal of mercury from water. The removal relies on transferring mercury from an aqueous stream to a natural gas stream upon contacting the aqueous stream with the natural gas stream. Processing of the natural gas stream after used to strip the mercury from the aqueous stream removes the mercury from the natural gas stream. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110067858 | FISHBONE WELL CONFIGURATION FOR IN SITU COMBUSTION - An underground reservoir is provided comprising an injection well and a production well. The production well has a horizontal section oriented generally perpendicularly to a generally linear and laterally extending, upright combustion front propagated from the injection well. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110067610 | WATER RECOVERY FROM FLUE GAS IN STEAM-ASSISTED PRODUCTION - A method for introducing flue gas in a steam-assisted production facility into a vapor-liquid contactor. In this method the flue gas comprises boiler combustion products selected from at least one of commercial pipeline natural gas and produced gas. The flue gas is cooled with the vapor-liquid contactor to condense a portion of the water vapor in the flue gas to produce a water stream. The water stream is then recirculated and cooled in an air cooler to produce recirculating water exiting the bottom of the vapor-liquid contactor. A water slipstream is then taken off the recirculating water to be used as make-up water. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110067497 | HIGH PRECISION ULTRASONIC CORROSION RATE MONITORING - The invention relates to very precisely measuring changes in thickness of pipe walls to determine corrosion rate prior to any significant corrosion loss. The thickness is determined by ultrasonic testing where many measurements of the wall thickness are taken at the same spot by a fixed sensor and errors associated with noise and temperature changes are substantially eliminated. A highly sensitive receiver converts each reflected pulse to waves that are averaged with other pulse measurements. The resulting average wave is analyzed so that each waveform is analyzed to identify the extrema and inflection points of each reflected pulse. The resulting analysis provides a far more accurate determination of the time between reflected pulses. As a result, a far more accurate picture of corrosion at the location of the wall of the pipe can be determined within weeks with a high degree of confidence. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110066388 | CORROSION RATE MONITORING - Methods and apparatus relate to measuring corrosion rate. Flowing corrosive fluid contacts a metal coupon or object and results in an effluent stream. The effluent stream contains metal from the object due to reaction of constituents in the fluid with the metal. Analysis of the effluent stream measures concentration of the metal therein. Since the concentration of the metal in the effluent stream is indicative of mass loss from the object, calculations provide the corrosion rate utilizing weight of the metal that is eluted, surface area of the object and exposure time of the object with the corrosive fluid. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110061873 | Hydraulically Driven Downhole Pump Using Multi-Channel Coiled Tubing - This invention relates to a coiled tubing installed and operated hydraulically driven downhole pump for hydrocarbon wells and especially hydrocarbon gas wells that are prone to produce fluids that choke gas production. The hydraulically driven downhole pump is driven by a closed loop surface positioned hydraulic power system. Should the hydraulically driven downhole pump become inoperative, it may be quickly retrieved and immediately replaced using a coiled tubing unit as compared to a workover rig. A coiled tubing unit is able to pull the coiled tubing string and re-install the string quite rapidly because the coiled tubing does not have joints that need to be disassembled or reconnected. The manpower needs and costs for replacement are considerably less and lost production of the well is substantially reduced. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110054795 | Petrophysical Evaluation of Subterranean Formations - Methods and systems are provided for evaluating petrophysical properties of subterranean formations and comprehensively evaluating hydrate presence through a combination of computer-implemented log modeling and analysis. Certain embodiments comprise the steps of running a number of logging tools in a wellbore to obtain a variety of wellbore data and logs, and evaluating and modeling the log data to ascertain various petrophysical properties. Examples of suitable logging techniques that may be used in combination with the present invention include, but are not limited to, sonic logs, electrical resistivity logs, gamma ray logs, neutron porosity logs, density logs, NRM logs, or any combination or subset thereof. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110047866 | REMOVAL OF IMPURITIES FROM OILS AND/OR FATS - Disclosed is a process for removing solids, metals, phosphorus compounds and other impurities from low quality triglyceride containing feedstock. The final treated triglyceride containing feedstock may be converted to fuel range hydrocarbons via hydrotreating process. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110046423 | HYDROTREATING CARBOHYDRATES - Conversion of renewable hydrocarbons to transportation fuels is required to reduce carbon emission, limit the use of fossil fuels, and develop renewable energy sources. Sorbitol, xylitol and trehelose are polyalcohols generated from the liquefaction of various sugars and carbohydrates in biomass from algae, corn, sugarcane, switchgrasses, and biological wastes. Mixtures of aqueous polyols and fuel feedstocks are catalyzed over metal catalysts to produce hexanes, pentanes, and lighter hydrocarbons. By managing the catalyst, reaction conditions and sulfur content, the octane value of the product fuel is dramatically increased. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110043800 | Residual Chemical Monitoring System Using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy - Target chemicals are monitored at very low concentrations in pipelines or vessels such as storage tanks using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis of a sample. A liquid sample having a target chemical such as biocides, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, anti-foaming agents, emulsion breakers, and hydrate inhibitors are tested while exposed to a prepared and charged surface of a coupon so as to draw the target material to the prepared and charged surface. The charged surface is fairly precisely charged using two other electrodes to calibrate the charge on the surface of the coupon. With the target substance presumably drawn to the coupon, the molecules on the surface of the coupon are excited by monochromatic light such as from a laser to induce vibrations within the molecules. The vibrations of the molecules reflect and scatter the monochromatic light in distinctive manners such that the collected light from the surface provides an indication of the presence of the target substance in the sample and a quantitative indication of the concentration of the target material in the sample. With the ability at lower power and reasonable cost to sense the presence well down below one percent and into the ppm range provides the opportunity to more precisely and efficiently add such chemicals to operating pipelines and storage tanks. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110036543 | Method and System for Deriming Cryogenic Heat Exchangers - The invention relates to a method and apparatus relate for the liquefaction of natural gas. In another aspect, the present invention concerns the deriming the interior surfaces of a cryogenic heat exchanger employed in the liquefaction of natural gas. In another aspect, the present invention concerns the utilization of a pump to derim the interior surfaces of a cryogenic heat exchanger. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110031861 | CRYOGENIC INSULATION ATTACHMENT - An attachment means of insulation within a container to prevent heat leakage from the ambient to an apparatus located within the container that operates at a cryogenic temperature. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110023972 | DISPERSE NON-POLYALPHAOLEFIN DRAG REDUCING POLYMERS - A drag reducing composition comprising at least one non-polyalphaolefin polymer having an average particle size in the range of from about 5 to about 800 micrometers. The non-polyalphaolefin polymer can initially be formed via emulsion polymerization. The initial polymer particles can then be at least partially consolidated and then reduced in size and suspended in a carrier fluid. The resulting drag reducing composition can be added to a hydrocarbon-containing fluid to decrease the pressure drop associated with the turbulent flow of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid through a conduit. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110019502 | PRACTICAL AUTONOMOUS SEISMIC RECORDER IMPLEMENTATION AND USE - Seismic systems and methods are provided to synchronize both source and receiver data using inexpensive timers and/or low energy timers to obtain high resolution seismic data. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110017455 | HYDROCARBON RECOVERY METHOD - A process for increasing the efficiency of hydrocarbon recovery from an underground formation containing viscous hydrocarbons through the use of both gravity drainage and mobile water drive. The process comprises a pair of vertically-spaced horizontal wells and a laterally offset horizontal well. A heated fluid is injected into the formation via a first well pair, and an adjacent horizontal well creates a pressure sink to draw the heated fluid laterally to assist growth of the formation drainage area for hydrocarbon recovery improvement. Injected fluids recovered from both producers are collected for recycling. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110013482 | Variable Timing ZENSEIS - Seismic systems and methods are provided to collect variable seismic data, for coordinating source energy and receiver data as well as using both to obtain high resolution seismic data. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110011582 | IN SITU COMBUSTION WITH MULTIPLE STAGED PRODUCERS - Methods and apparatus relate to in situ combustion. Configurations of the injection and production wells facilitate the in situ combustion. Utilizing wet combustion for some embodiments promotes heat displacement for hydrocarbon recovery with procedures in which one or more of the production and injection wells are configured with lengths deviated from vertical. In some embodiments for either dry or wet combustion, at least the production wells define intake lengths deviated from vertical and that are disposed at staged levels within a formation. Each of the productions wells during the in situ combustion allow for recovery of hydrocarbons through gravity drainage. Vertical separation between the intake lengths of the production wells enables differentiated and efficient removal of combustion gasses and the hydrocarbons. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110011559 | WATER RECOVERY FROM STEAM-ASSISTED PRODUCTION - A method of introducing flue gas, from a flue stack in a steam-assisted production facility, into a heat exchanger. The flue gas comprises boiler combustion products selected from at least one of commercial pipeline gas and produced gas. The method begins by cooling a portion of the water vapor in the flue gas in the heat exchanger to produce flue gas water. This flue gas water is then collected and removed as make-up water. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110011127 | Process for Controlling Liquefied Natural Gas Heating Value - Process for efficiently operating a natural gas liquefaction system with integrated heavies removal/natural gas liquids recovery to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) and/or natural gas liquids (NGL) products. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110007310 | On-Line/At-Line Monitoring of Residual Chemical by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy - Target chemicals are monitored at very low concentrations in pipelines or vessels such as storage tanks using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis of a sample. A liquid sample having a target chemical such as biocides, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, anti-foaming agents, emulsion breakers, and hydrate inhibitors are tested while exposed to a prepared and charged surface of a coupon so as to draw the target material to the prepared and charged surface. The charged surface is fairly precisely charged using two other electrodes to calibrate the charge on the surface of the coupon. With the target substance presumably drawn to the coupon, the molecules on the surface of the coupon are excited by monochromatic light such as from a laser to induce vibrations within the molecules. The vibrations of the molecules reflect and scatter the monochromatic light in distinctive manners such that the collected light from the surface provides an indication of the presence of the target substance in the sample and a quantitative indication of the concentration of the target material in the sample. With the ability at lower power and reasonable cost to sense the presence well down below one percent and into the ppm range provides the opportunity to more precisely and efficiently add such chemicals to operating pipelines and storage tanks. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20100326656 | PATTERN STEAMFLOODING WITH HORIZONTAL WELLS - Processes and systems comprising a five-spot pattern of multiple horizontal wells for increasing the efficiency of heated vapor-assisted hydrocarbon recovery from subterranean viscous hydrocarbon formations. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100319877 | Removable Flow Diversion Baffles for Liquefied Natural Gas Heat Exchangers - The invention relates to liquefied natural gas. Particularly, the invention relates to indirect heat exchange means utilized in liquefaction processes. Specifically, the invention relates to the utilization of flow diversion plates within heat exchangers. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100314583 | Supercritical Water Processing of Extra Heavy Crude in a Slurry-Phase Up-Flow Reactor System - A method of mixing a catalyst with a heavy oil to create a heavy oil/catalyst mixture. This is followed by combining the heavy oil/catalyst mixture with supercritical water to form light hydrocarbon products and heavy hydrocarbon products. By doing so the light hydrocarbon products can be separated into a gaseous top product, an upgraded liquid hydrocarbon product and a water phase. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100313987 | LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS PIPELINE WITH NEAR ZERO COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION - The invention provides a pipe assembly for containing and transporting cryogenic temperature fluids. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100307736 | Permanent Bypass Whipstock Assembly For Drilling and Completing a Sidetrack Well and Preserving Access to the Original Wellbore - The present invention relates to drilling lateral wells or sidetrack wells from a primary wellbore to enhance the efficiency and productivity of oil and gas wells. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100304964 | METAL SULFIDE CATALYSTS AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME - Methods and apparatus relate to catalysts and preparation of the catalysts, which are defined by sulfides of a transition metal, such as one of molybdenum, tungsten, and vanadium. Precursors for the catalysts include a metal ion source compound, such as molybdenum trioxide, and a sulfide ion source compound, such as thioacetamide. Once the precursors are dissolved if solid and combined in a mixture, homogenous precipitation from the mixture forms the catalysts. Exemplary uses of the catalysts include packing for a methanation reactor that converts carbon monoxide and hydrogen into methane. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100304018 | Controlling Top of the Line Corrosion in Hydrocarbon Pipelines - The invention relates to applying corrosion inhibitor within a foam matrix to the top of the line of wet gas pipelines. The environment within a hydrocarbon containing pipeline may include fluids that form strong acids in the gas space at the upper portion of the pipeline and can rapidly corrode a carbon steel pipeline. The inventive solution is to provide a foam matrix created by a combination of foaming agent, foaming gas and corrosion inhibitor that are each selected to be compatible with each other and with the hydrocarbon mixture to form a stable foam matrix that treats the top of the line position for the length of the pipeline. A foam breaking agent at the end of the pipeline can be injected, if needed. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100301267 | METHODS OF MAKING LITHIUM VANADIUM OXIDE POWDERS AND USES OF THE POWDERS - Methods relate to making lithium vanadium oxide powders. Applications for the lithium vanadium oxide powders include use as a negative electrode or anode material for lithium ion batteries. Liquid phase reactions and reduction in vanadium oxidation state of precursor material facilitate in the making of the lithium vanadium oxide powders. Particles forming the lithium vanadium oxide powders may further contain carbon to provide electrical conductivity. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100300977 | OPERATIONS OF SELENIUM REMOVAL SORBENT BEDS - Methods and apparatus relate to removing selenium from a fluid. The fluid includes non-selenium constituents that are insoluble at a pH in which the fluid is passed through a sorbent bed in order to remove the selenium. Fouling of the sorbent bed can thereby result due to accumulation of the non-selenium constituents, which are precipitated solid materials. Intermittent washing of the sorbent bed with a heated and alkaline wash dissolves and removes the non-selenium constituents to maintain efficient operation and sustain selenium removal performance. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100300760 | ENHANCED SMEAR EFFECT FRACTURE PLUGGING PROCESS FOR DRILLING SYSTEMS - This invention relates to drilling a well, particularly an oil or gas well, where casing or liner will be installed to stabilize the wellbore. The present invention is intended to permit more drilling and longer lengths of casing or liner to be installed at one time. The present invention includes a combination of a smear tool and specially sized granular lost circulation material solids in the drilling mud which work together to close and seal leaking formations and fractures whether pre-existing or induced by drilling. By the natural collection of the inventive solids along with the conventional particles in the drilling mud to form a filter cake at the problem areas along the wall of the wellbore and the smear tool arranged to compress the filter cake into the problem areas, lost circulation is minimized. Maintaining circulation naturally allows for longer drilling cycles and potentially fewer liner joints in the well. As such, larger diameter boreholes are located in the hydrocarbon bearing formation and less time is spent installing casing or liner pipe. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100294490 | WELLHEAD HYDROCARBON UPGRADING USING MICROWAVES - Methods and apparatus relate to processes and systems that introduce microwaves into mixtures containing hydrocarbons. The microwaves cause heating of the hydrocarbons in order to upgrade the hydrocarbons. Such upgrading occurs after recovering the hydrocarbons from within a formation and results in lowering viscosity of the hydrocarbons to enable transportation of the hydrocarbons to offsite locations, such as a refinery. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100294489 | IN-SITU UPGRADING OF HEAVY CRUDE OIL IN A PRODUCTION WELL USING RADIO FREQUENCY OR MICROWAVE RADIATION AND A CATALYST - A method for heating heavy oil inside a production well. The method raises the subsurface temperature of heavy oil by utilizing an activator that has been injected below the surface. The activator is then excited with a generated microwave frequency such that the excited activator heats the heavy oil. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100294488 | ACCELERATING THE START-UP PHASE FOR A STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE OPERATION USING RADIO FREQUENCY OR MICROWAVE RADIATION - A method for preheating a formation prior to beginning steam assisted gravity drainage production. The method proceeds by forming a steam assisted gravity drainage production well pair within a formation. A preheating stage is then begun by injecting an activator into the formation. The preheating stage is then accomplished by exciting the activator with radio frequencies. This is followed by beginning the steam assisted gravity drainage operation. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100292109 | SWELLABLE POLYMERS WITH HYDROPHOBIC GROUPS - The invention is directed to crosslinked water-soluble swellable polymers, methods for making same and their various uses. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric particles being made with 0.1-5% hydrophobic monomers and labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said particles mixed with a fluid. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into a well and when the heat and/or pH of the target zones in the formation cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and when the particle expands, the hydrophobic groups associate to form a hydrophobically associative polymer, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100270208 | EFFICIENT METHOD FOR IMPROVED COKER GAS OIL QUALITY - An efficient delayed coking process improvement for producing heavy coker gas oil of sufficient quality to be used as hydrocracker feedstock. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100268468 | Method and Apparatus for Geobaric Analysis - A method and apparatus for geobaric analysis. The method may include acquiring an in situ gas volume of a subterranean formation, acquiring a drilling fluid characteristic, determining a volume of gas excavated from the subterranean formation utilizing the drilling fluid characteristic, and estimating the formation pressure utilizing the in situ gas volume and the excavated gas volume. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100251614 | TWO STAGE DRY FEED GASIFICATION SYSTEM AND PROCESS - A dry feed two stage gasification system and process is disclosed for gasifying feedstock such as carbonaceous materials with improved energy efficiency, along with reductions in feedstock consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The feedstock is first dried and pretreated with the hot syngas in the upper section of the gasifier to generate a dry char that is low in volatile-matter content. This dry char is sent to the first stage of a two stage gasifier where it reacts with oxygen in the presence of steam to produce a hot syngas stream. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100243249 | METHOD FOR ACCELERATING START-UP FOR STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE OPERATIONS - The present embodiment discloses a method for decreasing the time required for a start-up phase in a steam assisted gravity drainage production. The present method describes forming a steam assisted gravity drainage production well pair within a formation comprising an injection well and a production well, beginning a preheating stop by introducing heat between the injection well and the production well, beginning a steam squeeze stage by injection steam into the formation and beginning the steam assisted gravity drainage production. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100243239 | Compaction Tolerant Basepipe for Hydrocarbon Production - The invention relates to base pipe with slots cut into the peripheral wall to form compaction absorber segments that are arranged to permit the base pipe to be compacted in length without buckling or transferring excessive compressive forces to other pipe sections when a poorly consolidated formation shrinks due to production from the formation. Over time, the slots close as the base pipe shrinks in length and production continues through conventional holes in the base pipe. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100236778 | METHOD FOR REDUCING THERMAL LOSS IN A FORMATION - A method for reducing thermal loss in a formation comprising two zone capable of production. The method first begins drilling a pair of wells, comprising a first well and a second well in a formation having two production zones, wherein one production zone is a thief zone such that the first well and the second well are in fluid communication with the thief zone. A sealing agent is injected into the thief zone via a first well and produced from the second well. Either the first well or the second well is then capped to form a capped well and a uncapped well. An amount of activating agent is injected into the uncapped well to form in-situ a thermally restrictive substance inside the thief zone. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100234252 | CROSSLINKED SWELLABLE POLYMER - The invention is directed to stable crosslinked water-soluble swellable polymers, methods for making same, and their various uses in the hygiene and medical arts, gel electrophoresis, packaging, agriculture, the cable industry, information technology, in the food industry, papermaking, use as flocculation aids, and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric microparticles having labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said microparticle mixed with a fluid and an unreacted tertiary crosslinker that is capable of further crosslinking the microparticle on degradation of the labile crosslinker so as to form a stable gel. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into a well and when the heat and/or pH of the well cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and when the particle expands, the tertiary crosslinker crosslinks the polymer to form a stable gel, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100230112 | Multi-Channel, Combination Coiled Tubing Strings for Hydraulically Driven Downhole Pump - This invention relates to a downhole hydraulic pump for hydrocarbon wells that is installed and operated using coiled tubing. The downhole hydraulic pump is driven by a hydraulic power system positioned at the surface and connected through a closed loop system using multiple channels of the coiled tubing. The coiled tubing is formed of a combination of channels including strength component such as steel and having one channel that is at least lined with a non-metallic corrosion resistant surface where clean hydraulic fluid is carried from the hydraulic power system to the downhole hydraulic pump through the non-metallic corrosion resistant channel so to be less likely to pick up manufacturing and environmental particulates and corrosion by-products within the channel carrying the hydraulic fluid to the downhole hydraulic pump. The non-metallic corrosion resistant lined channel may comprise plastic pipe. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100230097 | HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION PROCESS - Methods and apparatus relate to producing hydrocarbons. Injecting a fluid mixture of steam and carbon dioxide into a hydrocarbon bearing formation facilitates recovery of the hydrocarbons. Further, limiting amounts of non-condensable gases in the mixture may promote dissolving of the carbon dioxide into the hydrocarbons upon contact of the mixture with the hydrocarbons. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100218996 | DIRECTIONAL SIDETRACK WELL DRILLING SYSTEM - This invention relates to drilling a sidetrack wellbore out of the side of an existing wellbore utilizing a drillable billet having a path formed in the billet to lead a bi-centered drillbit to kick-out from the wellbore and form a sidetrack wellbore. The bi-centered bit is arranged for the lands of the pilot section to follow the path of the billet while the wings of the ream out a portion of the billet and also ream out the earth to form the full dimension sidetrack wellbore. The bi-centered bit is used to drill the sidetrack wellbore to the target zone so that the entire drilling process extends from the existing wellbore to the target zone without a mandatory withdrawal of the drillstring from the wellbore. Tripping time is therefore less and drill time and rig time would inherently be less resulting in lower costs and increased profitability. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100218945 | Recovery of Hydrocarbons From Oil Shale Deposits - This invention relates to recovering hydrocarbons from oil shale preferably in-situ where the temperature of the oil shale deposit is controlled to maximize recovery of hydrocarbons and minimize decomposition of carbonate minerals into carbon dioxide that might be released into the atmosphere. The process includes generating heat from hydrocarbon gases recovered from the oil shale and then later performing a controlled burn of the char that is left in the spent shale after the kerogens have been thermally cracked and the most of the recoverable hydrocarbons have been recovered. The burning of the char is also controlled based on the temperature of the oil shale in-situ, the temperature of the gases retuning to the surface from the oil shale and the carbon dioxide in the gases returning to the surface. | 09-02-2010 |
