| CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20150267527 | METHOD FOR ANALYSING PORE PRESSURE IN SHALE FORMATIONS - The invention relates to a method for estimating pore pressure in subterranean shale formations such as gas- or organic-rich shale where pore pressure predictions based on either a resistivity log or a porosity-indicative log such as sonic tend to be inaccurate. The method involves combining the resistivity log with the porosity-indicative log using a Eaton formula to give an estimate of pore pressure which is accurate both for conventional water wet shale and for organic-rich shale. | 09-24-2015 |
| 20150225043 | FLOATABLE SUBSEA PLATFORM (FSP) - A subsea facility for hydrocarbon recovery in deep waters and methods of installation are provided. More specifically, the subsea facility equipment is on multiple modules equipped with a buoyancy system to allow the modules to sink to the sea floor. The modules can be attached and unattached to each other, thus allowing for a module to be raised to the surface for repairs without affecting the rest of the subsea facility. | 08-13-2015 |
| 20150218462 | REMOVING MERCURY FROM CRUDE OIL - Methods, systems and designs are provided for removing mercury from crudes. Crude oil is heated to a temperature above 100° C. and held at that temperature for a specified period of time to convert all of the forms of mercury in the oil into the elemental mercury form. The elemental mercury is then stripped from the crude oil by e.g., flashing the hot oil and/or contacting it with a gas phase. This process transfers the elemental mercury from the oil phase into the gas phase. Elemental mercury can then be removed from the gas phase by methods such as condensation, precipitation, or absorption either alone or in combination. | 08-06-2015 |
| 20140374191 | CRANE BOOM ACCESS - Methods and apparatus access the boom (jib) of a crane, e.g. of the type commonly employed on offshore oil rigs. In place of the extensive scaffolding structure normally required to provide secure access to a crane boom ( | 12-25-2014 |
| 20140366561 | INTEGRATED CASCADE PROCESS FOR VAPORIZATION AND RECOVERY OF RESIDUAL LNG IN A FLOATING TANK APPLICATION - Methods and systems for vaporizing and recovering LNG are provided. One method includes: a) heating at least a portion of the LNG to provide a boil-off gas stream and a liquid quench stream; b) routing the boil-off gas stream and the liquid quench stream to a quench system, wherein the quench system cools the boil-off gas stream to provide a quenched stream; and c) compressing the quenched stream to provide a compressed quenched stream. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140358444 | METHOD OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURE IDENTIFICATION USING TEMPERATURE - A method for identifying fractures in a formation. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20140352949 | INTEGRATING ROCK DUCTILITY WITH FRACTURE PROPAGATION MECHANICS FOR HYDRAULIC FRACTURE DESIGN - The invention relates to the calculation of parameters to inform hydraulic stimulation of non-conventional hydrocarbon-bearing rock formations, such as shales. Unlike conventional formations, non-conventional formations tend to display elastic-plastic behavior and have stress-strain characteristics which with substantial non-linear regions. A parameter which has been termed Elastic Index (EI) is proposed, together with a demonstration of how this parameter, when coupled with principles of fracture mechanics, may be used to extract meaningful calculated or estimated values for e.g.; total required volume of fracturing fluid; treating pressure; fracturing fluid viscosity; proppant size; and proppant concentration. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20140343859 | TIME-LAPSE 4D SCATTERING FOR IMAGING HYDRAULICALLY INDUCED FRACTURES - Tools and methods for monitoring a subterranean formation is provided. Methods for monitoring include: creating a time-lapse azimuth stack between an azimuth stack on a first seismic survey and an azimuth stack on a second seismic survey; identifying a lowest root mean square energy and a highest root mean square energy for each time-lapse azimuth stack; and recording an azimuth with largest overall root mean square energy. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140341423 | METHOD FOR TRACKING AND FORECASTING MARINE ICE BODIES - A near-real-time tracking and integrated forecasting of marine ice bodies observable on satellite imagery. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140338898 | ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE PROPPANT COATING AND RELATED METHODS - An electrically conductive proppant coating and a method for applying the coating to the proppant, whereby the coated electrically conductive proppant can determine formation characteristics, such as dimensions, orientation, and conductivity. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140332210 | TOP-DOWN OIL RECOVERY - Methods relate to producing hydrocarbons, such as bitumen in an oil sands reservoir. The methods include utilizing an injector well with multiple horizontal laterals to provide downward fluid drive toward a producer well. Combined influence of gravity and a dispersed area of the fluid drive due to the laterals facilitate a desired full sweep of the reservoir. Fluids utilized for injection include water heated to less than 60 weight percent steam, solvent for the hydrocarbons and emulsifying agent for the hydrocarbons. The methods employing these fluids provide energy efficient recovery of the hydrocarbons. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140332209 | POLYOL FOR IMPROVING SWEEP EFFICIENCY IN OIL RESERVOIRS - The proposed method is an improved chemical flooding of an oil reservoir, especially one containing heavy oil or bitumen, that is cheaper than traditional chemical flooding techniques. This is obtained by viscosifying the displacing phase with a polyol, such as glycerol and/or its derivatives. Glycerol and its derivatives are an excellent additive because they are cheaper than the more commonly used chemicals, work only as a viscosifying agent, do not alter the reservoir properties, and have a wide range of viscosity facilitating the displacement of a wider range of heavy oils. This improved chemical flooding can be used with any other enhanced oil recovery technique, including thermal means, solvent assisted and polymer floodings. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140332082 | LEAKAGE PROTECTION PADS - The invention relates to the prevention of small leakages from transfer lines used for transferring liquids, e.g. oil, between ships, oil platforms and other structures or vessels, where the transfer lines extend over open water. In such situations, small amounts of oil can leak from e.g. a corroded joint, causing an environmental impact which may be a notifiable event. A pad may be fastened around a joint or other part of the transfer line which may be at risk of leakage or seepage, which is capable of soaking up the small volumes of liquid which are likely to be involved (a liter or so). The pad includes a sorbent zone and an outer impermeable layer which may have a transparent or translucent portion. The pad is preferably also equipped with a floatation element. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140328664 | SINGLE CIRCUIT DOUBLE-ACTING PUMP - Removing water from a subterranean formation entails pumping hydraulic oil from a surface-located hydraulic oil pump through a hydraulic oil line to a downhole water pump piston to drive it in a first direction to pump water through a downhole water line to a water chamber of a hydraulic accumulator at the surface. A piston separates the water chamber and an oil chamber and moves to compress the hydraulic oil in the oil chamber of the hydraulic accumulator. The hydraulic oil pump may then pump hydraulic oil into the oil chamber causing the piston to move toward the water chamber, thereby moving water in the downhole water line and resetting the piston in the downhole water pump. A water valve in the downhole water line at the surface may open and release water when the piston in the downhole water pump reaches a predetermined or reset position. | 11-06-2014 |
| 20140313072 | ICE KEEL PREDICTION FROM SAR, OPTICAL IMAGERY AND UPWARD LOOKING SONARS - A method correlates satellite image data with data taken from multiple upward-looking sonars moored on the sea floor. The correlation of this information facilitates the prediction of ice thickness in later seasons using synthetic aperture radiation only, thus allowing for the assessment of threats to oil exploration, production or completion facilities located in the Arctic Ocean. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140311739 | ACCELERATION OF HEAVY OIL RECOVERY THROUGH DOWNHOLE RADIO FREQUENCY RADIATION HEATING - Heavy oil recovery using downhole radio frequency radiation heating accelerates SAGD thermal recovery processes. In one embodiment, one or more SAGD well pairs traverse a subterranean formation for recovering heavy oil. The SAGD well pairs each create a steam chamber which, over time, expands to allow each steam chamber to interact with one another and in this way, increases the recovery heavy oil from the formation. One or more antennas may be interposed between the steam chambers to introduce electromagnetic radiation into the formation to heat the fluids therein to accelerate expansion of the steam chambers, particularly where antennas are judiciously situated to optimize steam chamber expansion. Where an infill production well is present, the antennas may be situated to accelerate steam chamber communication with the infill production well. Advantages include lower cost, higher efficiencies, quicker and increased hydrocarbon recovery. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140305645 | REDUCED BLOWDOWN STEAM GENERATION - Steam is generated using high total dissolved solids (TDS) boiler feedwater while still maintaining relatively low boiler blowdown rates. In one embodiment, a boiler is adapted to generate low quality steam from the high TDS feedwater to maintain wet conditions in the boiler tubes to mitigate against fouling/scaling problems. The low quality steam is then separated into a vapor fraction and a liquid blowdown stream. The vapor fraction is superheated to superheated steam. The liquid blowdown stream is allowed to exchange heat with the thus-created superheated steam to vaporize a portion of the blowdown to form a finished steam and a waste stream. This reduces the blowdown to waste and creates more end user steam. The finished steam is routed to its end use, e.g., a hydrocarbon thermal recovery process. Advantages include lower cost, higher efficiency, and less equipment complexity. | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140284032 | CORE-IN-SHELL EXCHANGER REFRIGERANT INLET FLOW DISTRIBUTOR - Apparatuses and systems for introducing two-phase refrigerant into a shell of a core-in-shell exchanger are disclosed. One system includes: an exchanger shell; a heat-exchanging core disposed inside the exchanger shell; and an inlet flow distributor for directing incoming fluid comprising: a baffle plate with an array of orifice holes, wherein the orifice holes are off-set from the heat-exchanging core. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140269175 | 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. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140262314 | SYSTEM FOR DETECTING, CONTAINING AND REMOVING HYDROCARBON LEAKS IN A SUBSEA ENVIRONMENT - A system for the detection, containment and removal of hydrocarbon leaks in a subsea environment. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140260417 | MIXED-REFLUX FOR HEAVIES REMOVAL IN LNG PROCESSING - Systems and methods for removing heavy hydrocarbons are provided. Methods for liquefying a natural gas stream include: (a) cooling at least a portion of the natural gas stream in an upstream refrigeration cycle of a liquefaction process to produce a cooled natural gas stream; (b) separating via a first distillation column the cooled natural gas stream into a first top fraction and a first bottom fraction, wherein the first fraction does not freeze in a subsequent downstream step of the liquefaction process; (c) separating via a second distillation column the first bottom fraction into a second top fraction and a second bottom fraction, wherein the second top fraction at least a portion of a reflux stream; (d) optionally separating via a third distillation column the second bottom fraction into a third top fraction and a third bottom fraction, wherein the third top fraction forms a portion of the reflux stream; and (e) introducing the reflux stream into the first distillation column. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140251598 | RADIO-FREQUENCY ENHANCEMENT AND FACILITATION OF IN-SITU COMBUSTION - Radio frequency radiation is introduced downhole to heat one or more components of an in-situ hydrocarbon mixture. The mixture is heated to a temperature conducive to auto-ignition. Upon heating, an oxidant is introduced at conditions supportive of auto-ignition. The combined oxidant/hydrocarbon mixture is then allowed to auto-ignite and combust to form a partially upgraded mixture. Certain embodiments include introducing an ignition agent to facilitate auto-ignition. The radio frequency radiation may be supplemented, continued, or varied as desired to maintain, facilitate, or manage the resulting combustion process. In some cases, an activator is introduced to the formation to interact with the generated radio frequency radiation to enhance hydrocarbon heating. Advantages of certain embodiments include lower cost, reduced heating/ignition equipment, higher efficiencies, increased hydrocarbon recovery, and fewer auto-ignition failures. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140246196 | THROTTLING BOILER FOR FOULING MITIGATION - Methods and systems generate steam for thermal oil recovery, such as a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) operation. Feedwater is first pressurized to a pressure above that desired for steam injection in the SAGD operation before being heated to avoid at least some nucleate boiling. After being throttled, the local boiling regime is beyond the nucleate boiling regime due to the local pressure drop and the enhanced mixing caused by the throttling process. Two-phase liquid may continue through the boiler generating higher quality steam. | 09-04-2014 |
| 20140246195 | SUPERCRITICAL BOILER FOR OIL RECOVERY - Method and systems relate to generating steam by transitioning water from supercritical conditions and injecting the steam that results into a formation to facilitate recovery of oil. Pressurizing and heating the water forms a supercritical fluid that may solvate impurities in the water and/or oxidize the impurities. Retaining the impurities in solution and/or oxidation of the impurities limits fouling problems associated with generating the steam from water recycled in thermal processes, such as steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), for recovering the oil. | 09-04-2014 |
| 20140238076 | NITROGEN REJECTION UNIT - Methods and systems for removing nitrogen during liquefaction of natural are provided. Methods of removing nitrogen include warming a predominantly methane stream in a methane cold box to provide a warmed predominantly methane stream; conducting at least a portion of the warmed predominantly methane stream from the methane cold box to a nitrogen removal unit comprising at least a first nitrogen removal column and a last nitrogen removal column, wherein the first nitrogen removal column is located upstream of the last nitrogen removal column; passing the warmed predominantly methane stream through the last nitrogen removal column to provide a refluxed warmed predominantly methane stream; and routing at least a portion of the refluxed warmed predominantly methane stream to the last nitrogen removal column. | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140231081 | HYBRID STEAM GENERATION WITH CARBON DIOXIDE RECYCLE - Systems and methods relate to recovering hydrocarbons by injecting into a reservoir outputs from two different types of steam generators along with carbon dioxide. Synergistic results enable lower fuel consumption for such a hybrid based approach versus either type of steam generator alone. One steam generator vaporizes water by thermal transfer from combustion with exhaust from the combustion remaining separated from the steam. Since this type of steam generator outputs a limited carbon dioxide concentration with the steam, at least part of the carbon dioxide injected comes from recycling the carbon dioxide separated out of production fluids recovered from the reservoir. Another steam generator produces the steam by direct water contact with combustion products to produce a resulting fluid including the steam and additional carbon dioxide. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140230756 | HYDRODYNAMICS TO LIMIT BOILER FOULING - Methods and systems relate to generating steam from water that may be recycled in thermal oil recovery processes and is heated in tubes having non-obtrusive features to limit fouling formation. The tubes may include jets to generate enhanced flow mixing along an inner wall of the tubes in order to increase heat transfer and disrupt bubble nucleation. Employing the tubes with the inner wall having an average surface roughness of less than one micron may further facilitate disruption of the bubble nucleation. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140216739 | HEAT SCAVENGING METHOD FOR THERMAL RECOVERY PROCESS - Thermal recovery of oils is improved by capturing waste heat from a depleted steam chamber using steam plus foam and an optional gas to carry low quality steam deep into the chamber where the waste heat converts water to steam in situ. Thus, overall steam generation needs and thus costs are reduced. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140209305 | DELAYED GELLING AGENTS - The disclosure is directed to polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles that can be used to deliver agents deep into hydrocarbon reservoirs. Methods of making and using said polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles are also provided. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140208825 | PETROLEUM-FLUID PROPERTY PREDICTION FROM GAS CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF ROCK EXTRACTS OR FLUID SAMPLES - This method allows for prediction of subsurface fluid properties (e.g., phase or API gravity) using gas chromatogram data of a small-volume extract. Small volume equates to microliter scale volume (or milligram scale weight) from a subsurface rock sample, where a fluid test may not be available for analysis. The method may also be applied to petroleum liquid samples where drilling fluid or other contaminants preclude accurate direct property measurement. Gas chromatographic data is calibrated to measured petroleum properties; preferably local oils from the same petroleum system, however, a general global calibration can also be used. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140205383 | JACK-UP DRILLING UNIT WITH TENSION LEGS - The invention relates generally to a method for supporting non-buoyant offshore drilling units that are anchored to the sea floor and are subject to heavy lateral loads. Specifically, tension tendons are attached to piled foundations to prevent jack-ups from being overturned by the loads. Tension can also be applied to the tendons to provide additional hold down forces to the offshore units. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140202693 | NANOGELS FOR DELAYED GELATION - The instant application relates to nanogels or compositions that hold multivalent metal ions until some level of nanogel degradation has occurred, then slowly release the multivalent metal ions for gelation with carboxylate containing polymers. Compositions comprising such nanogels, together with polymers that can be crosslinked with multivalent metal ions, allow the deployment of such mixtures in various applications, and greatly increased gelation times. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140197072 | OIL UPGRADING WITHIN COMBUSTION EXHAUST - Methods and systems relate to upgrading hydrocarbons, such as bitumen, by contacting the bitumen with flue gas of oxy-combustion. Quenching a mixture formed of the bitumen and the flue gas controls conversion of the bitumen. Limited size and amount of equipment needed enables employing such upgrading at production fields to facilitate making the bitumen transportable by pipeline without relying on diluents. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140196894 | FLUORESCENT TAGS FOR DETECTION OF SWELLABLE POLYMERS - The invention is directed to stable crosslinked swellable fluorescently tagged polymeric microparticles, methods for making same, and their various uses. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into target zone and when the heat and/or suitable pH of the target zone cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and the microparticles expand. The swelled polymer diverts water to lower permeability regions and improves oil recovery. The tags allow monitoring of the presence and concentration of the tagged microparticles and ultimately allow evaluation of the performance of such treatments. Detection of polymeric microparticles in producing wells can be instructive for teaching about the character and extent of thief zones in the subsurface. Better knowledge of the reservoir flow will enable improved application of the gel treatments, improved oil recovery, and allow improved forecasting using simulation modeling. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140190689 | USE OF FOAM WITH IN SITU COMBUSTION PROCESS - The present invention relates to a novel method of maintaining a steady and/or proper water-gas ratio for the wet in situ combustion process for oil recovery. In particular, the method comprises mixing water with a foaming agent, or some other colloid capable of generating foam, in addition to gas. The foam carries the water through heated reservoirs more efficiently and prevents separation from the gas. As such, more heat can be scavenged, thus an increased amount of steam is generated and transferred to the oil to increase its recovery. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140166538 | BITUMEN BASED INDIRECT STEAM BOILER - Systems and methods generate steam in hydrocarbon recovery operations and may further enable emulsion separation and product upgrading. The methods rely on indirect boiling of water by contact with a thermal transfer liquid heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the water. Examples of the liquid include oils, recovered hydrocarbons, liquid metals and brine. Heating of the liquid may utilize circulation of the liquid across or through a furnace, heat exchangers, or a gas-liquid contactor supplied with hot gas. Further, a solvent for bitumen introduced into the water may also vaporize upon contact with the thermal transfer liquid. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140166281 | LIQUID INDIRECT STEAM BOILER - Systems and methods generate steam in hydrocarbon recovery operations and may further enable emulsion separation and product upgrading. The methods rely on indirect boiling of water by contact with a thermal transfer liquid heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the water. Examples of the liquid include oils, recovered hydrocarbons, liquid metals and brine. Heating of the liquid may utilize circulation of the liquid across or through a furnace, heat exchangers, or a gas-liquid contactor supplied with hot gas. Further, a solvent for bitumen introduced into the water may also vaporize upon contact with the thermal transfer liquid. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140166263 | BRINE BASED INDIRECT STEAM BOILER - Systems and methods generate steam in hydrocarbon recovery operations and may further enable emulsion separation and product upgrading. The methods rely on indirect boiling of water by contact with a thermal transfer liquid heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the water. Examples of the liquid include oils, recovered hydrocarbons, liquid metals and brine. Heating of the liquid may utilize circulation of the liquid across or through a furnace, heat exchangers, or a gas-liquid contactor supplied with hot gas. Further, a solvent for bitumen introduced into the water may also vaporize upon contact with the thermal transfer liquid. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140165930 | HEATING FOR INDIRECT BOILING - Systems and methods relate to vaporizing water into steam, which may be utilized in applications such as bitumen production. The methods rely on indirect boiling of the water by contact with a substance such as solid particulate heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the water. Heating of the solid particulate may utilize pressure isolated heat exchanger units or a hot gas recirculation circuit at a pressure corresponding to that desired for the steam. Further, the water may form part of a mixture that contacts the solid particulate and includes a solvent for the bitumen in order to limit vaporization energy requirements and facilitate the production. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140165929 | WATER WITH SOLVENT INDIRECT BOILING - Systems and methods relate to vaporizing water into steam, which may be utilized in applications such as bitumen production. The methods rely on indirect boiling of the water by contact with a substance such as solid particulate heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the water. Heating of the solid particulate may utilize pressure isolated heat exchanger units or a hot gas recirculation circuit at a pressure corresponding to that desired for the steam. Further, the water may form part of a mixture that contacts the solid particulate and includes a solvent for the bitumen in order to limit vaporization energy requirements and facilitate the production. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140165928 | HEAT EXCHANGE FOR INDIRECT BOILING - Systems and methods relate to vaporizing water into steam, which may be utilized in applications such as bitumen production. The methods rely on indirect boiling of the water by contact with a substance such as solid particulate heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the water. Heating of the solid particulate may utilize pressure isolated heat exchanger units or a hot gas recirculation circuit at a pressure corresponding to that desired for the steam. Further, the water may form part of a mixture that contacts the solid particulate and includes a solvent for the bitumen in order to limit vaporization energy requirements and facilitate the production. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140162912 | SWELLABLE POLYMER WITH CATIONIC SITES - The invention is directed to long lasting crosslinked water-soluble swellable polymers, methods for making same, and their uses. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric particles having cationic sites as well as labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said particle 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 target zones in the reservoirs and when the heat and/or a suitable pH in the reservoir cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and when the particle expands, the cationic sites in the polymer adsorb to negative sites of the rock in the formation, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery. However, many other uses are possible. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140150492 | USE OF ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS IN OPTIMIZED CASCADE PROCESS - Methods and systems for liquefying natural gas using nonflammable refrigerants are provided. Methods of liquefaction include cooling a natural gas stream via indirect heat exchange with a first nonflammable refrigerant selected from the group consisting of: difluoromethane, pentafluoromethane, trifluoromethane, hexafluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane, pentafluorethane, trifluoroethane, pentafluoroethane, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof during a first refrigeration cycle; and cooling the natural gas stream via indirect heat exchange with a second refrigerant during a second refrigeration cycle. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140150491 | USE OF LOW GLOBAL-WARMING POTENTIAL, LOW OZONE DEPLETION POTENTIAL, LOW COMBUSTIBILITY HYDROFLUORO-OLEFIN, XENON OR IODO COMPOUND REFRIGERANTS IN LNG PROCESSING - Methods and systems for liquefying natural gas using environmentally-friendly low combustibility refrigerants are provided. Methods of liquefaction include cooling a fluid in an LNG facility via indirect heat exchange with an environmentally-friendly low combustibility refrigerant selected from the group consisting of: a fluorinated olefin, xenon, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140144628 | CROSSLINKING OF SWELLABLE POLYMER WITH PEI - The invention is directed to stable and labile crosslinked water swellable polymeric microparticles that can be further gelled, 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 comprising PEI or other polyamine based tertiary crosslinker that is capable of further crosslinking the microparticle on degradation of the labile crosslinker and swelling of the particle, so as to form a stable gel. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric microparticles are injected into a well and when the heat and/or pH of the well cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and when the microparticle expands, the tertiary crosslinker crosslinks the polymer to form a stable gel, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140144627 | HYDROCARBON RECOVERY WITH STEAM AND SOLVENT STAGES - A steam-assisted gravity drainage method includes a two stage solvent injection scheme, wherein steam plus solvent injection is followed by steam plus heavier-solvent injection. The two solvent injections improve recoveries of both the heavy oil and the injected solvent while limiting steam requirements, thus improving the economics of the method. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140144626 | SUPERHEATED STEAM WATER TREATMENT PROCESS - Methods and apparatus produce steam and, more particularly, utilize untreated feedwater as a source for steam used in steam assisted gravity drainage. Superheated steam, produced from treated feedwater in a boiler, is used to vaporize untreated feedwater that would otherwise foul a boiler. Contaminants in the untreated water can them be removed as solids or concentrated brine. The vaporization process occurs in stages to allow for the use of a higher fraction of untreated water. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140142854 | METHOD FOR LOCATING A MICROSEISMIC EVENT - A method of event location to avoid first break picking when signals are small or the ambient noise level is high is described. In this method traveltime associated with the maximum amplitude phases (for any mode of wave) are identified and picked from one or more sensors in an array. Difference between the arrival times are then calculated. A grid search (or optimization) techniques are then employed to search for the event location to match the observed time differences. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140133273 | FRACTURE CHARACTERIZATION FROM REFRACTION TRAVEL TIME DATA - Refracted energy travel time can help to derive anisotropic parameters in a target layer. These anisotropic parameters allow us to both explore for new reservoirs and to understand stress and fracturing in existing reservoirs. This information can be used to i) detect oil reservoirs, ii) spot naturally fractured, hence high production zones, iii) detect dominant natural stress directions, iv) better place horizontal wells to optimize production, v) monitoring man made fractures or induced directional stress changes. The method is demonstrated using synthetic and real data. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140131043 | SWELLABLE POLYMER WITH ANIONIC SITES - The invention is directed to stable crosslinked water-soluble swellable polymers and methods for making same. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric particles having anionic sites and labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said particle mixed with a fluid and a cationic crosslinker that is capable of further crosslinking the particle on degradation of the labile crosslinker and exposure of the anionic sites so as to form a gel. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into target zone and when the heat and/or suitable pH of the target zone cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and the particle expands, the cationic crosslinker crosslinks the polymer to form a gel, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140114632 | METHOD FOR MODELING A RESERVOIR USING 3D MULTIPLE-POINT SIMULATIONS WITH 2D TRAINING IMAGES - A method for modeling a reservoir is described. One example of a method for modeling a 3D reservoir involves using multiple-point simulations with 2D training images. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140110109 | DIRECT STEAM GENERATION OF BOILER BLOWDOWN - Systems and methods generate steam from produced water by passing the produced water through first and second steam generators coupled together. The first steam generator produces wet steam in which a liquid effluent with impurities of the produced water passes to the second steam generator. The second steam generator combusts fuel and oxidant in direct contact with the liquid effluent. The first and second steam generators limit fouling and waste while providing a combined steam output that may include combustion products from only the second steam generator. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140104984 | FLARED PSEUDO-RANDOM SPIRAL MARINE ACQUISITION - A method for acquisition of seismic data in a marine environment. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140102707 | 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. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140102700 | MITIGATING THIEF ZONE LOSSES BY THIEF ZONE PRESSURE MAINTENANCE THROUGH DOWNHOLE RADIO FREQUENCY RADIATION HEATING - Methods are provided for mitigating thief zone losses during hydrocarbon recovery by thief zone pressure maintenance through downhole radio frequency (RF) radiation heating. A thief zone situated near a hydrocarbon reservoir poses a risk of losing valuable components from the reservoir to the thief zone. In addition to the risk of loss of diluent, heat, or steam to the thief zone, valuable hydrocarbons may also be lost to the thief zone. One way to mitigate these losses is by maintaining thief zone pressure. RF radiation may be used to heat a thief zone fluid to maintain pressure in the thief zone, decreasing the driving force for losses to the thief zone. In some cases, steam generated thusly may be used to enhance hydrocarbon thermal recovery. Advantages of methods herein include: lower costs, higher efficiencies, higher hydrocarbon recovery, less hydrocarbon contamination, increased hydrocarbon mobility, and fewer thief zone losses. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140102698 | PLUNGER FALL TIME IDENTIFICATION METHOD AND USAGE - A method for determining when a plunger reaches the bottom of an oil or gas well equipped with a plunger lift system. More particularly, the method identifies a surface pressure associated with the plunger reaching the bottom. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140090834 | EM AND COMBUSTION STIMULATION OF HEAVY OIL - A method of producing heavy oil from a heavy oil formation by combining electromagnetic heating to achieve fluid communication between wells, following by in situ combustion to mobilize and upgrade the heavy oil. | 04-03-2014 |
| 20140060958 | HETERODYNED ECCENTRIC VIBRATOR - The invention relates to delivering seismic energy with rotating eccentrics where the eccentrics are driven at relatively high, but different rotational rates create a heterodyned frequency of seismic energy into the earth. The rotating eccentrics may be rotated in opposite directions to deliver pressure waves or in the same direction to create a shear component to the seismic impulses. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140060825 | DIRECT STEAM GENERATION CO2 OUTPUT CONTROL - Methods and systems generate steam and carbon dioxide mixtures suitable for injection to assist in recovering hydrocarbons from oil sands based on concentration of the carbon dioxide in the mixtures as influenced by temperature of water introduced into a direct steam generator. Increasing temperature of the water to above 200° C. before introduction into the direct steam generator may utilize heat from an electrical power generation unit. Enthalpy of this preheated water impacts amount of fuel needed to burn in the direct steam generator and hence the concentration of the carbon dioxide, which may be below 11% by mass percent of the steam. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140060823 | IN SITU COMBUSTION FOR STEAM RECOVERY INFILL - Methods and systems produce petroleum products from a formation by a steam assisted process followed by an in situ combustion process. The steam assisted process utilizes an injector and first producer to form a steam chamber within the formation as the products are recovered. The in situ combustion then starts by injecting an oxidant into the formation and ignition of residual products. A combustion front advances toward a second producer that may be offset in a lateral direction from the first producer. Heat and pressure from the in situ combustion sweeps the products ahead of the combustion front to the second producer for recovery. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140034296 | WELL CONFIGURATIONS FOR LIMITED REFLUX - Methods and systems produce petroleum products by steam assisted gravity drainage with dual producers separated vertically and laterally from at least one injector. Placement of the producers limits temperature rise of draining fluids and hence reflux of non-condensable gases injected with steam. In particular, the fluids drain along a steam chamber boundary for recovery at positions that are not in a direct downward path from where the injector is introducing heat. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140025304 | INVERTED SEISMIC ATTRIBUTE QUALITY AND LOCAL ROCK PHYSICS CALIBRATION - Methods and processing in the field of seismic data, particularly to more accurately predict petrophysical property variables at unsampled locations beyond and between wells. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20130327085 | SEMI-CLOSED LOOP LNG PROCESS - A semi-closed loop system for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) that combines certain advantages of closed-loop systems with certain advantages of open-loop systems to provide a more efficient and effective hybrid system. In the semi-closed loop system, the final methane refrigeration cycle provides significant cooling of the natural gas stream via indirect heat transfer, as opposed to expansion-type cooling. A minor portion of the LNG product from the methane refrigeration cycle is used as make-up refrigerant in the methane refrigeration cycle. A pressurized portion of the refrigerant from the methane refrigeration cycle is employed as fuel gas. Excess refrigerant from the methane refrigeration cycle can be recombined with the processed natural gas stream, rather than flared. | 12-12-2013 |
| 20130317791 | HYDRODYNAMIC SLUG FLOW MODEL - A very simple model has been presented which is able to reproduce slug flow from the instability of a flow with average hold-up and slip. The disclosure demonstrates that slug flow may be modeled as two different, stable solutions to the multiphase flow which coexist at different points in the line, moving with a celerity of U | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130308422 | CONSTANT ENERGY DISPLACEMENTS - An electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons is provided. In one example, the source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power for all systems on the source such as driving a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion along with driving the source from location to location through a survey area. A foot is arranged on the bottom end of the rod or piston for contact with the ground and by engaging the grid of motors to push down against the ground in a rapid progression, acoustic energy is created and delivered into the ground for geophones to sense and record. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20130292115 | STEAM GENERATOR BLOWDOWN MANAGEMENT - Systems and methods relate to treating wastewater, such as blowdown from steam generators used in oil sands production. The systems rely on precipitation by acidification of the wastewater along with passing the wastewater at a pressure of at least 138 kilopascals through a multiphase centrifuge to remove at least partially organic and/or silica solids. A resulting treated aqueous stream may meet thresholds desired for injection into a disposal well. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130286791 | DISCRETE ELECTRIC SEISMIC SOURCE UNIT - The invention is an electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons. The source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power for all systems on the source such as driving a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion along with driving the source from location to location through a survey area. The seismic source includes systems for driving the acoustic energy systems using electric energy concurrently from both the generator and an electric energy accumulator such as a capacitor or battery, systems for adjusting the weight on the acoustic energy delivery system by raising and lowering wheels individually and an active energy isolation to isolate the chocks and impulses of the acoustic energy delivery system from the remainder of the seismic source. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130286790 | SIMULTANEOUS COMPOSITE LAND SEISMIC SWEEP - The invention is an electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons. The source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power for all systems on the source such as driving a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion along with driving the source from location to location through a survey area. Preferably a foot is arranged on the bottom end of the rod or piston for contact with the ground and by engaging the grid of motors to push down against the ground to create impulses that deliver acoustic seismic energy into the earth for geophones to sense and record. However, the pulses of seismic energy are delivered in a distinctive fashion where different linear motors are deliberately and concurrently providing different signals that create a distinctive composite signature or signal that can be identified in the data record for source separation purpose. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130286789 | ACTIVE ISOLATION APPARATUS - The invention is an electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons. The source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power for all systems on the source such as driving a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion along with driving the source from location to location through a survey area. The seismic source further includes an active isolation system that provides for significant weight on the ground through the rods of the linear electric motors, but protects the vehicle body and the remainder of the systems on the seismic source to be insulated from the harshest vibration related to the acoustic energy being applied to the ground. The active isolation system may include reactive elements such as pneumatic and hydraulic shock absorbers, but also includes active elements such as linear motors operated to counteract the impulsive forces from conveying through the frame of the seismic source. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130286788 | ELECTRICAL ENERGY ACCUMULATOR - The invention is an electric power accumulator used with an electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons. The source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power to drive a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion. The source may also be designed to use electric power to drive the source from location to location through a survey area. A large electric power accumulator is provided to store electric power when the generator is able to produce excess power and the accumulator may deliver power along with the generator to drive the rods and deliver acoustic energy. With a large electric power accumulator, such as a battery or capacitor, the engine and generator combination may be engineered to be somewhat smaller, less costly and more efficient than a system where the engine and generator were sized to provide the electric power at times of maximum electric draw. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130286780 | DISTINCTIVE LAND SEISMIC SWEEP - The invention is an electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons. The source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power for all systems on the source such as driving a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion along with driving the source from location to location through a survey area. Preferably a foot is arranged on the bottom end of the rod or piston for contact with the ground and by engaging the grid of motors to push down against the ground in a rapid progression, acoustic energy is created and delivered into the ground for geophones to sense and record. However, the rapid progression of pulses or sweep of seismic energy is delivered in a distinctive fashion as compared to a conventional upsweep or downsweep and the distinctiveness is also achieved by creating a designed cadence or timing such that each pulse in a series of pulses is not delivered in a regular timing. Several similar seismic sources may be employed where each is provided with its own distinctive series of pulses such that each may be identified within the data record and source separation from a number of seismic sources may be accomplished. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130286779 | QUASI-IMPULSIVE DISPLACEMENT SOURCE - The invention is an electric seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons that creates a quasi-impulsive burst of seismic energy onto the ground and into the earth. The source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power for all systems on the source such as driving a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground. All of the linear electric motors are driven against the ground in a high power pulse that delivers a band-limited spectrum of seismic energy over a very brief period of time that would like a “pop” and be measured in milliseconds. A quasi-impulsive seismic pulse would create a wave field that resembles the seismic data acquired using dynamite or other explosive seismic systems without the ultrahigh frequencies of a true explosive pulse. The quick burst or several quick bursts may further speed up the survey by minimizing the time that a vibe spends on a source point. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130286771 | ALTERNATIVE VIBRATOR ACTUATOR SOURCE - The invention is an electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons. The source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power to drive a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion. Preferably, a foot is arranged on the bottom end of the rod or piston for contact with the ground and by engaging the grid of motors to push down against the ground in a rapid progression, acoustic energy is created and delivered into the ground for geophones to sense and record. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130286041 | MULTI-DIMENSIONAL DATA RECONSTRUCTION CONSTRAINED BY A REGULARLY INTERPOLATED MODEL - A process for overcoming aliasing using a minimum weighted norm interpolation (MWNI) technique may include computing an initial, regularly interpolated model with no data gaps and computing a plurality of initial spectral weights using the initial, regularly interpolated model. The initial, regularly interpolated model is used to compute the spectral weights as initial constraints in a least-squares solution methodology. The initial spectral weights are used as initial constraints in a constrained minimum weighted norm interpolation data reconstruction. The process may further include converting the initial, regularly interpolated model into a frequency domain and computing unknown spectral weights from frequency data at each frequency slice of the initial, regularly interpolated model using Fourier transform. The process results in reducing aliasing artifacts and improving data regularization. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130284535 | DISCRETE ELECTRIC SEISMIC SOURCE - The invention is an electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons. The source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power for all systems on the source such as driving a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion along with driving the source from location to location through a survey area. Preferably, a foot is arranged on the bottom end of the rod or piston for contact with the ground and by engaging the grid of motors to push down against the ground in a rapid progression, acoustic energy is created and delivered into the ground for geophones to sense and record. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130284534 | WHEEL LIFTING APPARATUS - The invention is an electric powered mechanism for lifting and lowering at the wheels for an electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons. The source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power for all systems on the source such as driving a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion along with driving the source from location to location through a survey area. Preferably a foot is arranged on the bottom end of the rod or piston for contact with the ground and by engaging the grid of motors to push down against the ground in a rapid progression, acoustic energy is created and delivered into the ground for geophones to sense and record. The electric powered wheel mechanism may be utilized to bring the foot of the rod or piston in contact with the ground or in closer proximity to the ground or level the source prior to emitting the seismic energy or to adjust weight on the acoustic energy delivery system while seismic energy is being delivered. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130283923 | DETERMINATION OF NEAR SURFACE GEOPHYSCIAL PROPERTIES BY IMPULSIVE DISPLACEMENT EVENTS - The invention is an improved technique for measuring near surface attributes of the ground while conducting a seismic survey. The improved technique is enabled by an electric vibe using a number of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion. By applying constant force on the rods of the linear electric motors against the ground, the penetration into the ground may be measured for both rate and overall deformation. This information provides an accurate indication of viscosity and stiffness. In addition shear velocity and compression velocity may be measured and in some conditions, even the type of prominent shear wave may be identified for the area. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130282348 | EFFICIENT DATA MAPPING TECHNIQUE FOR SIMULATION COUPLING USING LEAST SQUARES FINITE ELEMENT METHOD - The coupling of geomechanics to reservoir simulation is essential for many practical situations in the exploitation of hydrocarbons. Such coupling requires cross-mapping block-centered data in reservoir model to nodal data in geomechanical finite element model. If different grid geometries and grid densities between two models are used, this data mapping will become considerably challenging. In this invention, an innovative method is proposed to achieve remarkable accuracy of data mapping from reservoir model to the geomechanical model with ease and quite efficiently using least squares finite element method. The achievement of accurate data mapping will enable efficient simulation coupling between reservoir simulation and geomechanical simulation to investigate some engineering problems in the exploitation of hydrocarbons. | 10-24-2013 |
| 20130277049 | PREDICTING STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE STEAM CHAMBER FRONT VELOCITY AND LOCATION - The invention relates to the development of an analytical model to predict the velocity of the continuously expanding front of the steam chamber in a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) hydrocarbon production system. The developed analytical model has advantages over reservoir simulation tool in that it is very fast and can be easily calibrated with field observation well data before making good prediction. One field study shows that the developed model can achieve excellent prediction for a field SAGD performance. A better understanding of the size of the steam chamber and the velocity of the front should provide better time, cost and energy efficiency for the production of high viscosity hydrocarbons. | 10-24-2013 |
| 20130237728 | TRANSPORTATION FUELS FROM BIOMASS OXYGENATES - Oxygenate feedstocks derived from biomass are converted to a variety of fuels including gas, jet, and diesel fuel range hydrocarbons. General methods are provided including hydrolysis, dehydration, hydrogenation, condensation, oligomerization, and/or a polishing hydrotreating. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130230357 | Riser Protection Structures - The present invention provides a riser protection structure being suitable to be employed in a Jackup rig. The riser protection structure comprises a plurality of piles, an upper module, wherein the upper module comprises a main protection tubing for receiving a riser, a plurality of sleeves to be installed over the plurality of piles, and a connecting network; wherein the plurality of sleeves are disposed around the main protection tubing; and wherein the main protection tubing and the plurality of sleeves are connected together by the connecting network, and a lower module, wherein the lower module comprises a plurality of tubular guides for guiding and later fixing the piles and a connecting structure, wherein the plurality of piles are securely disposed into the seabed for providing the requisite support for the upper and lower modules when they are assembled. | 09-05-2013 |
| 20130213653 | PRODUCER SNORKEL OR INJECTOR TOE-DIP TO ACCELERATE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAGD PRODUCER AND INJECTOR - Methods and systems relate to steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) utilizing well pairs that are at least initially in fluid communication through drilled bores toward their toe ends. At least one of a horizontal injection well and horizontal production well of such a well pair includes a hooked length toward toe ends of each other connecting said injection well and said production well. The methods and systems improve SAGD oil production, reduce SAGD start-up time and costs, and improve overall SAGD performance. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130213652 | SAGD STEAM TRAP CONTROL - This present disclosure describes methods and systems related to SAGD injection and/or production wells that utilize flow distribution control devices. Additionally, methods and systems using limited vertical spacing separating the wells are described. These methods and systems improve steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) oil production, reduce SAGD start-up time and costs, and improve overall SAGD performance. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130201795 | FRACTURE IDENTIFICATION FROM AZIMUTHAL MIGRATED SEISMIC DATA - A method is described for identifying anisotropic regions in unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs, such as in shale formations. Anisotropy can be indicative of a zone of fracturing, which may represent a “sweet spot” for drilling a productive well. Seismic amplitude data from receivers is recorded along two orthogonal lines radiating from a seismic source. After time-migration, the equations for each orthogonal direction may be summed to obtain values for A and (B | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130199774 | HEAVY OIL PRODUCTION WITH EM PREHEAT AND GAS INJECTION - An enhanced oil recovery technique that combines gas injection with EM radiation to heat and mobilize heavy oil at least until fluid communication is achieved. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130199238 | LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS PLANT WITH ETHYLENE INDEPENDENT HEAVIES RECOVERY SYSTEM - This invention relates to a process and apparatus for liquefying natural gas. In another aspect, the invention concerns a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility employing an ethylene independent heavies recovery system. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130188459 | DOWNHOLE HETERODYNED ECCENTRIC VIBRATOR - The invention relates to delivering seismic energy with rotating eccentrics where the eccentrics are driven at relatively high, but different rotational rates create a heterodyned frequency of seismic energy into the earth from a downhole location. The rotating eccentrics may be rotated in opposite directions to deliver pressure waves or in the same direction to create a shear component to the seismic impulses. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130180712 | METHOD FOR ACCELERATING HEAVY OIL PRODUCTION - A method of drilling a first well and a second well into the reservoir includes forming a conduit between the first well and the second well. The conduit is filled with a conduit material. Finally, a low viscosity fluid is injected into the conduit to establish fluid communication between the first well and the second well. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130168315 | REMOVAL OF FIELD CHEMICALS FROM PRODUCED WATER USING DIFFERENT MEMBRANE PROCESSES AND SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT - Methods and systems based on membrane separation processes for removal of field chemicals are provided. In certain embodiments, methods and systems for water impurity removal include introducing contaminated water into membrane separation devices, which comprise ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, or a reverse osmosis membranes. In some embodiments, the reverse osmosis system comprises a semi-permeable membrane capable of rejecting substantially all of the monovalent ions, divalent ions, and organic molecules. Examples of impurities which may be removed by this system include kinetic hydrate inhibitor and/or corrosion inhibitor. In certain embodiments, the impurity removal system may comprise one or more impurity removal stages. Some embodiments of the present invention feature a high field chemical removal rate of from about 84 percent to about 99.9 percent, depending on the choice of membranes. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130168094 | ENHANCED HEAVY OIL RECOVERY USING DOWNHOLE BITUMEN UPGRADING WITH STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE - Methods for recovery of heavy oils use selective catalytic downhole upgrading with SAGD technology. Certain embodiments include extracting heavy oil using a SAGD process and upgrading the heavy oil in a production well with a cracking catalyst. The cracking catalyst is introduced into the production well, allowing the extracted hydrocarbons to interface with the cracking catalyst to upgrade the hydrocarbons. The upgraded hydrocarbons are then separated from the cracking catalyst. This upgraded stream has a lower molecular weight, significantly reducing the viscosity of the produced hydrocarbons. A gasifier is provided to gasify a portion of the slurry containing unconverted heavy oil and cracking catalyst to produce syngas. The syngas may then be used to produce steam for use in the SAGD extraction process, improving energy efficiency of the process. Further, formation catalyst losses are avoided as the catalyst injected into the well is recovered and available for reuse. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130160487 | LIQUEFYING NATURAL GAS IN A MOTION ENVIRONMENT - Systems and methods for liquefying natural gas in a motion environment, utilizing a core-in-shell type heat exchanger are provided. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130155814 | CRITICAL REFLECTION ILLUMINATIONS ANALYSIS - The illumination/imaging of a theorized target horizon that is below a theorized velocity contrast horizon where the velocity contrast horizon may represent the bottom of a salt dome by assessing the path of seismic energy for critical angle reflection/refraction and tabulates the successful paths and unsuccessful paths. For some subsurface locations, seismic energy will not reach the surface above the velocity contrast due to the shapes of the velocity contrast horizon and target horizon and the velocity model through which the studied waves propagate. Displays may be prepared and used for understanding illumination/imaging of the geology for drilling, reacquisition, and reprocessing to elicit information about subsurface geology that may have been overlooked or ignored. Future surveys avoid expensive surveying which cannot obtain useful seismic data as determined by the velocity contrast for the target locations due to the shapes of the horizons and the velocity model. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130153210 | SITU RF HEATING OF STACKED PAY ZONES - A method of heating stacked pay zones in a hydrocarbon formation by radio frequency electromagnetic waves is provided. In particular, radio frequency antenna array having multiple antenna elements are provided inside a hydrocarbon formation that has steam-impermeable structure. The antenna elements are so positioned and configured that the hydrocarbons in the place where conventional thermal methods cannot be used to heat due to the steam-impermeable structure can now be heated by radio frequency electromagnetic waves. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130153179 | INTERNAL BAFFLE FOR SUPPRESSING SLOSH IN A CORE-IN-SHELL HEAT EXCHANGER - Apparatuses and methods for suppressing slosh in a core-in-shell type heat exchanger are provided. One embodiments provides a heat exchanger including: (a) an internal volume defined within a shell; (b) a plurality of spaced apart cores disposed within the internal volume of the shell, and (c) slosh suppressing baffles disposed within the internal volume to separate the plurality of spaced apart cores, wherein each core is partially submerged in a liquid shell-side fluid, wherein the slosh suppressing baffles allow limited distribution of the liquid shell-side fluid between each core, wherein the slosh suppressing baffles can withstand cryogenic temperatures, wherein the slosh suppressing baffles can withstand and divert the flow of the liquid shell-side fluid between each core. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130153172 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING THE IMPACT OF MOTION IN A CORE-IN-SHELL HEAT EXCHANGER - Methods and apparatuses for reducing the effects of motion in a core-in-shell type heat exchanger are provided. One apparatus includes: (a) a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger includes an internal volume defined within a shell and a plurality of spaced apart cores disposed within the internal volume of the shell, wherein the internal volume is flooded with a vaporizing fluid; and (b) a separation vessel connected to the heat exchanger, wherein the separation vessel is located at higher elevation than the heat exchanger, wherein the separation vessel is connected to the heat exchanger in such a manner so as to deliver a hot feed stream to heat exchanger and the receive a non-vaporizing stream from the heat exchanger. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130144089 | PYROLYSIS OIL UPGRADING TO GASOLINE RANGE LIQUIDS - This invention is a method for converting biomass derived pyrolysis oil (bio-oil) into materials that will be more useful for transportation fuels including the following two steps: 1) solubilizing and extracting bio-oil oxygenates, and 2) zeolite catalyzed hydrogenation of the oxygenates into renewable fuel range materials. | 06-06-2013 |
| 20130136681 | SOLVENT LOADING SYSTEM - Embodiments relate to methods and systems for loading a liquid solvent with a gas. Upon spraying the solvent into contact with the gas, droplets of the solvent absorb the gas and coalesce as a partial loaded solution. The solution then passes along at least one wetted wall column disposed in contact with the gas for further loading of the solvent. One exemplary application utilizes an amine as the solvent to be loaded with the gas, such as carbon dioxide. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130126162 | IN-SITU ZONAL ISOLATION AND TREATMENT OF WELLS - This invention relates to a process for isolating one or more segments of a gravel packed well from other segments to treat the isolated segments and easily re-establish flow from the other segments after the treatment. The treatment includes techniques for enhancing or permanently blocking production from the isolated segment. The process includes the installation of a removable sealing element and a permeability poison that forms a fluid seal to prevent longitudinal fluid flow along the annular production space outside the tubular production pipe. With wireline or other low-cost wellbore workover systems, access is re-engaged with the secluded formation including removal of plugs and fluid seals within the tubular production pipe. The inventive process allows enhanced recovery of fluids by focusing treatments on problem areas without harming productive segments of the well. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130124162 | METHOD OF CALCULATING A SHAPE FACTOR OF A DUAL MEDIA FRACTURED RESERVOIR MODEL FROM INTENSITIES AND ORIENTATIONS OF FRACTURE SETS FOR ENHANCING THE RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBINS - A method of calculating a shape factor may include identifying a first fracture set, a second fracture set and a third fracture set within a subterranean formation; determining the azimuth and the dip of the first fracture set; determining the azimuth and the dip of the second fracture set; determining the azimuth and the dip of the third fracture set; determining the fracture spacing intensity of each fracture set, measuring an angle formed by an intersection of the first and second fracture sets; measuring an angle formed by an intersection of the first and third fracture sets; measuring an angle formed by an intersection of the second and third fracture sets; calculating a shape factor for each particular configuration of the plurality of fracture sets; and developing an ellipse-based equation utilizing the shape factors of these particular configurations and angles formed between each pair of the plurality of fracture sets. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130121767 | METHOD FOR STORING COMPRESSED AIR IN POROUS SUBSURFACE LOCATIONS - A methodology for storing compressed air in porous subterranean formations for subsequent production and use in generating electricity. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130114372 | OSCILLATING FLARED STREAMERS - The invention relates to a seismic acquisition process where the streamers are intentionally directed to follow an oscillating sweep pattern behind a tow vessel to counteract the effect of the large gaps between the streamers while acquire a wide sweep of data through each pass over the survey area. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130110484 | RESERVOIR MODELLING WITH MULTIPLE POINT STATISTICS FROM A NON-STATIONARY TRAINING IMAGE | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130101357 | DUAL-DERRICK 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 hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with a lower portion that is an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. Furthermore, the ice worthy jack-up rig that comprises at least two derricks so as to double the exploration efficiency and lower the relating costs. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130099960 | ICE DATA COLLECTION, PROCESSING AND VISUALIZATION SYSTEM - Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) collect and transmit information about ice floe thickness; this is combined with SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR images from satellites to identify and track dangerously thick regions of ice. The overlayed data is presented graphically to allow tracking of the thick ice regions over time. This information is used to alert drilling platforms in icy ocean conditions of pending ice floe dangers. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130092600 | PROCESS TO PARTIALLY UPGRADE SLURRY OIL - A process of producing a light oil stream from slurry oils. The process begins by obtaining slurry oil from a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The slurry oil is then flowed over a fixed bed catalyst, consisting essentially of a non-metal catalyst, to produce a processed slurry oil. The processed slurry oil is then separated by boiling point to separate out the light oil stream. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130087502 | WATER IMPURITY REMOVAL METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Methods and systems for enhanced water treatment comprise inorganic filter systems for impurity removal. Embodiments for water impurity removal include introducing contaminated water into an impurity removal system having an inorganic filter. The inorganic filter comprises an inorganic membrane layer supported by an inorganic support. The inorganic membrane layer comprises pores sized from about 1,000 Daltons to about 10 microns for filtering impurities such as kinetic hydrate inhibitor. Other pre-treatment and post-treatment stages may be included. The inorganic membrane layer or inorganic membrane support may comprise a ceramic such as alumina, zirconia, silica, silicon carbide, and mixed oxides. As compared to conventional methods, advantages of certain embodiments include one or more of: higher efficiencies, higher capacities, higher integrity against more aggressive feeds and higher temperatures, increased impurity recyclability, increased product quality, increased automation, increased simplicity, reduced waste, high modularization allowing enhanced scale-up, and lower operational and capital costs. | 04-11-2013 |
| 20130087340 | CHEMOMECHANICAL TREATMENT FLUIDS AND METHODS OF USE - Methods and systems are provided for favorably altering the chemomechanical properties of subterranean formations using treatment fluids comprising surfactants and halide salts. Methods for treating formations comprise the steps of introducing a chemomechanical treatment fluid into the formation and allowing the treatment fluid to interact with the formation to alter its petrochemical properties in various ways. Depending on the application, the chemomechanical treatment fluid may comprise a base fluid, a halide salt and an amphoteric or nonamphoteric surfactant where the surfactant is dissolved in the base fluid at a concentration below its critical micelle concentration. Applications of use involving the chemomechanical treatment fluids include treatment operations, secondary recovery operations, drilling operations, and any other operation that would benefit from the formation property modifications described herein. Subterranean formation properties that may to be varied by the chemomechanical treatment fluid include fracture toughness, compressive strength, and tensile strength. | 04-11-2013 |
| 20130077440 | RECIPROCAL METHOD TWO-WAY WAVE EQUATION TARGETED DATA SELECTION FOR IMPROVED IMAGING OF COMPLEX GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES - The invention relates to seismic imaging where complex geologies are likely to create data that is confusing or ambiguous for a conventional matrix of acquisition source points and receiver locations. With some understanding of the geological substructure, the acquisition source points and receiver locations that optimize the imaging may be found by using a reciprocal two-way wave equation propagation method coupled with a quality geologic model. With this, the acquisition source points and receiver locations that optimize the imaging may be selected and used to better resolve the substructure and avoid the inclusion of data that obscures understanding of the substructure. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130077439 | RECIPROCAL METHOD TWO-WAY WAVE EQUATION TARGETED DATA SELECTION FOR SEISMIC ACQUISITION OF COMPLEX GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES - The invention relates to seismic surveying where complex geologies are likely to create data that is confusing or ambiguous for a conventional matrix of acquisition source points and receiver locations. With some understanding of the geological substructure, the acquisition source points and receiver locations that optimize the imaging may be found by using a reciprocal two-way wave equation propagation method coupled with the best geologic model available. With this, the acquisition source points and receiver locations that optimize the imaging may be used in seismic survey to better resolve the substructure and avoid the inclusion of data that obscures understanding of the substructure. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130068458 | HEAT RECOVERY METHOD FOR WELLPAD SAGD STEAM GENERATION - The invention provides a method of recovering heat from hot produced fluids at SAGD facilities that utilize wellpad steam generation such as Direct Steam Generators (DSG). | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130067803 | ADVANCED CELLULOSIC RENEWABLE FUELS - The invention relates to a process to manufacture advanced cellulosic gasolines. Dilute organic acids derived from pyrolized biomass are converted to their corresponding alcohols in a stand-alone hydrodeoxygenation unit followed by membrane pervaporation step to remove water. The alcohol product is blended directly into a neat hydrocarbon fuel basestock to make unadditized gasoline. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130062065 | INDIRECT DOWNHOLE STEAM GENERATOR WITH CARBON DIOXIDE CAPTURE - Methods and systems for enhancing recovery of hydrocarbons below a permafrost layer are provided which use a downhole combustion device to inject a heated fluid into a subterranean formation to enhance hydrocarbon recovery through viscosity reduction. The system is configured to avoid adversely thermally affecting the permafrost, which is highly undesirable. One or more heat exchangers may be used in conjunction with the combustion device to enhance heat transfer of various streams. The heat exchanger(s) mitigate the adverse effects of various streams on the permafrost by lowering the return stream temperatures, which are transported through the wellbore. A carbon dioxide capture system may be provided to recover carbon dioxide from the combustion device exhaust. Certain optional embodiments allow the amount of carbon dioxide introduced into the formation to be independently controlled to further enhance the hydrocarbon recovery. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130062058 | IN SITU COMBUSTION FOLLOWING SAGD - There is provided herein a method for recovering petroleum from a formation, wherein said formation is intersected by at least one wellpair consisting of a horizontal production well and a horizontal injection well, and wherein said formation comprises at least one steam chamber developed by a steam-assisted process, said method comprising: providing an oxidizing agent near the top of said formation; initiating in situ combustion (ISC); and recovering petroleum from said at least one production well. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20130056071 | DONOR-ACCEPTOR DYAD COMPOUNDS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS - Methods, compositions and devices relate to photovoltaic cells having a photoactive layer and constituents synthesized and utilized for the photoactive layer. The photovoltaic cells incorporate photoactive materials produced from dyads formed into an initial layer and then thermally cleaved to provide the photoactive layer. Cleavage of the dyads, such as synthesized fullerene anthracen-2-ylmethyl 3-(thiophen-3-yl) acetate dyads, or polymers of the dyads into separate molecules providing donors and acceptors facilitates in obtaining the photovoltaic cells with desired arrangement and interspacing of the donors and the acceptors relative to one another. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130041633 | HEAT FRONT CAPTURE IN THERMAL RECOVERY SIMULATIONS OF HYDROCARBON RESERVOIRS - A numerical procedure is disclosed to improve the prediction of heat fronts when simulating hot fluid injection in viscous hydrocarbon reservoirs. The mathematical model is composed of the conventional governing equations that describe multiphase fluid flow and energy balance. The reservoir geometry can be partitioned into a regular Cartesian grid or an irregular corner-point geometry grid. The numerical procedure uses the finite different (FD) method to solve the flow equations and the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method to solve the energy balance equation. The proposed FD-DG method is an alternative to the traditional solution procedure that uses the FD method to solve both the flow and the energy equations. The traditional method has the deficiency that it may require excessive number of grid cells to achieve acceptable resolution of the heat fronts. The proposed FD-DG method significantly reduces numerical dispersion near discontinuities in the solution of the energy equation and therefore provides a better capture of the heat fronts. To obtain a desired accuracy in the energy equation solution, the FD-DG method can be orders of magnitude faster than the traditional method. The superiority of the FD-DG method is that it converges on coarser grids while the traditional method requires much finer grids. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130041094 | DRAG REDUCTION OF ASPHALTENIC CRUDE OILS - A method of preparing a drag reducing polymer wherein the drag reducing polymer is able to be injected into a pipeline, such that the friction loss associated with the turbulent flow through the pipeline is reduced by suppressing the growth of turbulent eddies. The drag reducing polymer is injected into a pipeline of liquid hydrocarbon hydrocarbon having an asphaltene content of at least 3 weight percent and an API gravity of less than about 26° to thereby produce a treated liquid hydrocarbon wherein the viscosity of the treated liquid hydrocarbon is not less than the viscosity of the liquid hydrocarbon prior to treatment with the drag reducing polymer. The drag reducing polymer has a solubility parameter within 4 MPa | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130037118 | MONOMER SELECTION TO PREPARE ULTRA HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT DRAG REDUCER POLYMER - 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 an ultra high molecular weight polymer. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130037117 | DRAG REDUCTION OF ASPHALTENIC CRUDE OILS - A method of introducing a drag reducing polymer into a pipeline such that the friction loss associated with the turbulent flow though the pipeline is reduced by suppressing the growth of turbulent eddies. The drag reducing polymer is introduced into a liquid hydrocarbon having an asphaltene content of at least 3 weight percent and an API gravity of less than about 26° to thereby produce a treated liquid hydrocarbon. The treated liquid hydrocarbon does not have a viscosity less than the viscosity of the liquid hydrocarbon prior to treatment with the drag reducing polymer. Additionally, the drag reducing polymer is added to the liquid hydrocarbon in the range from about 0.1 to about 500 ppmw. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130033033 | PIPELINE LINER NON-FLANGE CONNECTION - This invention relates to a non-flange connector capable of fitting around a plastic liner and connecting two sections of pipe without the need for flanges. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130021875 | MULTIPLE FREQUENCY GEOPHONE STRINGS - The invention relates to acquiring seismic data from the earth using geophones that are tuned to have differing frequency sensitivity ranges. The differing frequency sensitivity ranges cover a broader effective frequency range so that low frequency energy and high frequency energy are less attenuated in the raw data record. Two separate geophones would be used at the same node and three or more geophones may be used in combination at each node. When three or more geophones are used in combination, each may have a separate but overlapping frequency sensitivity range or two or more of the geophones may have the same frequency range sensitivity. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130020085 | SURFACTANT SYSTEM TO INCREASE HYDROCARBON RECOVERY - A post-primary oil recovery process for recovering oil from a subterranean formation may involve injecting into a crude oil-bearing subterranean formation an aqueous saline surfactant composition of brine, Alkyl Polyglucoside, Linear Primary Alcohol Ethoxylate, sodium hydroxide and alcohols; displacing the aqueous composition through the oil-bearing formation and driving oil from the oil-bearing formation; and recovering oil displaced from the subterranean formation. The injecting step may be preceded by the step of injecting into the subterranean formation a volume of salinity water to adjust salinity of connate water within the subterranean reservoir to a predetermined salinity. Injection of the surfactant composition may further be followed by injection of a buffer comprising water dispersible polymeric viscosifier or water soluble polymeric viscosifier. The surfactant composition may additionally contain at least one cosurfactant selected from hydrocarbon sulfonates and alcohols. The aqueous saline surfactant composition may be or include SCHMOO-B-GONE SURFACTANT®. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130014709 | INDIRECT STEAM GENERATION SYSTEM AND PROCESS - Embodiments relate to production of hydrocarbons from an underground formation. More specifically, embodiments relate to a system and method for generating steam for heavy hydrocarbon production process. The indirect steam generation system uses moving hot solids (e.g. sand, metal spheres, etc) to produce steam from non-treated (dirty) boiler feed water. The solids are then transported to another vessel (e.g.combustor) where they are reheated and cleaned of contaminants before being recycled back to the boiler to produce more steam. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130008651 | METHOD FOR HYDROCARBON RECOVERY USING SAGD AND INFILL WELLS WITH RF HEATING - A method for hydrocarbon resource recovery in a subterranean formation may include forming spaced apart injector/producer well pairs in the subterranean formation, with each well pair including a laterally extending producer well and a laterally extending injector well spaced thereabove. The method may also include forming laterally extending infill wells in the subterranean formation, with each infill well being located between respective adjacent injector/producer well pairs. The method may also include recovering hydrocarbon resources from the producer wells based upon Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) via the injector/producer well pairs, and recovering hydrocarbon resources from the infill wells based upon RF heating regions of the subterranean formation surrounding the respective infill wells. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130008650 | ELECTROMAGNETIC DEPTH/ORIENTATION DETECTION TOOL AND METHODS THEREOF - Methods and systems for depth and radial orientation detection are provided. Methods for determining the depth or radial orientation of one or more downhole components include the steps of providing a target mass and a using a detection device for detecting the depth and/or orientation of the target mass. In some cases, the target mass is an electromagnet. In certain embodiments, the target mass is a magneto-disruptive element that is detected with a magnetic flux leakage tool. In this way, the target mass acts as a depth or radial orientation marker. Where the target mass is situated downhole in a known radial relationship to another downhole component, the radial orientation of the other downhole component may be deduced once the radial orientation of the target mass is determined. Advantages include higher accuracies and reduced health, safety, and environmental risks. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130008646 | DEPTH/ORIENTATION DETECTION TOOL AND METHODS THEREOF - Methods and systems for depth and radial orientation detection are provided. Methods for determining the depth or radial orientation of one or more downhole components include the steps of providing a target mass and a using a detection device for detecting the depth and/or orientation of the target mass. In some cases, the target mass is initially nonradioactive and then, after installing the target mass downhole, it may be irradiated to form a relatively short-lived radioactive target mass, which may then be detected with a radiation detector. In this way, the target mass acts as a depth or radial orientation marker. Where the target mass is situated downhole in a known radial relationship to another downhole component, the radial orientation of the other downhole component may be deduced once the radial orientation of the target mass is determined Advantages include higher accuracies and reduced health, safety, and environmental risks. | 01-10-2013 |
| 20130004903 | Combustion of Volatile Organic Compounds to CO2 and H2O with Low NOx Formation - A process of combusting a gaseous volatile organic compound over a modified alumina catalyst at a temperature below 5° C. while exothermically producing CO | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130000897 | RECYCLING CO2 IN HEAVY OIL OR BITUMEN PRODUCTION - A method relates to improving production rate and recovery of heavy oil or bitumen and reducing heat loss to over and under burden in a steam-assisted production process. The method includes strategically injecting recycled carbon dioxide into the reservoir between production wells. The heat insulation and solvent effects provided by carbon dioxide dissolved in the oil phase facilitate the desired improvement on oil recovery, and simultaneously sequester the CO | 01-03-2013 |
| 20120325559 | CORE CAPTURE AND RECOVERY FROM UNCONSOLIDATED OR FRIABLE FORMATIONS AND METHODS OF USE - Methods and systems for enhanced capture and recovery of core samples from unconsolidated or friable formations are provided using drilling fluids that permit increased overpressures to preserve the ability to cut core samples and to strengthen the core samples obtained. Drilling fluids used during capture and recovery of core samples may comprise a solid particulate loss prevention material having a size range from about 150 microns to about 1,000 microns. The solid particulate loss prevention material prevents fracture initiation and propagation in the subterranean formation to allow the use of higher overpressures than would otherwise be possible. Thus, by circulating drilling fluid in the borehole while drilling a core sample, higher overpressures may be achieved, which have been found to be beneficial during core capture and recovery by maintaining core integrity and avoiding core loss. In this way, core sample integrity is improved, yielding more accurate representations of the subsurface. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20120323544 | RESERVOIR CALIBRATION PARAMETERIZATION METHOD - A method is described for producing an amended realization of a geostatistical model of a hydrocarbon reservoir using the Karhunen-Loève (KL) expansion. The KL expansion may be used to produce amended realizations for history matching and is widely used. However, it is necessary in order to use the KL expansion to perform singular value decomposition of the covariance matrix of the model to provide eigenvectors and eigen values for use in the expansion. In a typical geostatistical model, the covariance matrix is too large for singular value decomposition to be performed. Prior solutions to this problem involved reducing the resolution of the model so as to reduce the size of the covariance matrix. In the method described, a plurality of random realizations are generated and an approximation of the covariance matrix is constructed from the realizations, the approximation matrix having smaller dimensions than the true covariance matrix. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120312534 | ENHANCED HYDROCARBON RECOVERY THROUGH GAS PRODUCTION CONTROL FOR NONCONDENSABLE SOLVENTS OR GASES IN SAGD OR ES-SAGD OPERATIONS - Methods are provided for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery through gas production control for noncondensable gases in SAGD or ES-SAGD operations. Steam may be injected into one or more injection wells to heat the hydrocarbons and reduce their viscosity to more easily produce the hydrocarbons. A noncondensable gas may be injected into the injection wells to beneficially reduce the steam-to-oil ratio, improving economic recovery. Unfortunately, excessive production of noncondensable gases can adversely suppress hydrocarbon production rates. To counteract this problem, gas production rates at the production wells may be controlled to optimize hydrocarbon output by limiting the produced gas-to-water ratio to certain limited ranges. The noncondensable gas may optionally comprise a combustion gas such as flue gas. By providing a useful application of existing combustion gases, green house gases emissions may be reduced. Advantages include higher efficiencies, lower costs, reduced hydrocarbon extraction time, and in some embodiments, reduced greenhouse gas emissions. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120312090 | METHOD FOR EVALUATION OF HYDROCARBON CONTENT OF SHALE - The invention relates to the evaluation of hydrocarbon gas or liquid deposits, or condensate, in a shale formation. From relatively few log inputs, together with assumed or estimated or known values for density or porosity of kerogen, a single mathematical process involving the solution of a number of simultaneous equations, provides a value for both kerogen volume and total porosity. Additional checks and balances may be used to provide corrections to the result, for example based on pyrite volume or water saturation. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20120305239 | CYCLIC RADIO FREQUENCY STIMULATION - Production of heavy oil and bitumen from a reservoir is enhanced by cyclic radio frequency (RF) radiation of the well. The invention utilizes RF radiation to introduce energy to the hydrocarbon reservoir in cycles in order to heat the reservoir directly, yet conserves energy over the prior art processes that more or less continuously apply RF or microwave energy. The advantage of cyclic RF is it uses less electricity, and thus lowers operating costs. This is achieved by the soak cycle that allows heat to conduct into the formation and assists the heat penetration that is directly radiated into the formation by the antenna. The invention can also be advantageously combined with cyclic steam stimulation. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120305091 | DRAG REDUCTION OF ASPHALTENIC CRUDE OILS - A method of introducing a drag reducing polymer into a pipeline such that the friction loss associated with the turbulent flow though the pipeline is reduced by suppressing the growth of turbulent eddies. The drag reducing polymer is introduced into a liquid hydrocarbon having an asphaltene content of at least 3 weight percent and/or an API gravity of less than about 26° to thereby produce a treated liquid hydrocarbon. The treated liquid hydrocarbon does not have a viscosity less than the viscosity of the liquid hydrocarbon prior to treatment with the drag reducing polymer. Additionally, the drag reducing polymer is added to the liquid hydrocarbon in the range from about 0.1 to about 500 ppmw. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120300585 | RECIPROCAL METHOD TWO-WAY WAVE EQUATION TARGETED DATA SELECTION FOR SEISMIC ACQUISITION OF COMPLEX GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES - The invention relates to seismic surveying where complex geologies are likely to create data that is confusing or ambiguous for a conventional matrix of acquisition source points and receiver locations. With some understanding of the geological substructure, the acquisition source points and receiver locations that optimize the imaging may be found by using a reciprocal two-way wave equation propagation method coupled with the best geologic model available. With this, the acquisition source points and receiver locations that optimize the imaging may be used in seismic survey to better resolve the substructure and avoid the inclusion of data that obscures understanding of the substructure. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120300584 | TWO-WAY WAVE EQUATION TARGETED DATA SELECTION FOR IMPROVED IMAGING OF PROSPECTS AMONG COMPLEX GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES - The invention relates to seismic imaging where complex geologies are likely to create data that is confusing or ambiguous for a conventional matrix of source points and receiver locations. With some understanding of the geological substructure, the source points and receiver locations that optimize the imaging may be found by using two-way wave equation propagation coupled with a quality geologic model. With this, the source points and receiver locations that optimize the imaging may be selected and used to better resolve the substructure and avoid the inclusion of data that obscures understanding of the substructure. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120298209 | DRAG REDUCTION OF ASPHALTENIC CRUDE OILS - A system for reducing pressure drop associated with the turbulent flow of asphaltenic crude oil through a conduit. The crude oil has a high asphaltene content and/or a low API gravity. Such reduction in pressure drop is achieved by treating the asphaltenic crude oil with a high molecular weight drag reducing polymer that can have a solubility parameter within about 20 percent of the solubility parameter of the heavy crude oil. The drag reducing polymer can also comprise the residues of monomers having at least one heteroatom. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120287755 | SEISMIC TRUE ESTIMATED WAVELET - 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 a process for correcting data prior to inversion where the correction is provided to correct for the filtering effect of the earth. The earth is a non-homogenous seismic propagator that causes distortions of wavelets of seismic energy related to the source and receiver azimuth and offset that makes the identification of source specific data within the composite data harder to identify. Computing an earth response and correcting for the effects of the earth on the wavelets provides for more resolution and more clarity in the resulting data and better geophysical interpretation. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120285320 | PARTICLE DOPED HOLLOW-FIBER CONTACTOR - Methods and apparatus relate to recovery of carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide from a gas mixture. Separating of the carbon dioxide, for example, from the gas mixture utilizes a liquid sorbent for the carbon dioxide. The liquid sorbent contacts the gas mixture for transfer of the carbon dioxide from the gas mixture to the liquid sorbent. Contacting of the sorbent with the gas mixture and/or desorption of the carbon dioxide from the liquid sorbent utilize hollow-fiber contactors that have permeable walls and incorporate particles distinct from a remainder of the walls to influence wetting properties of the contactors. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120285319 | SORBENT REGENERATION IN A HEATED HOLLOW-FIBER ASSEMBLY - Methods and apparatus relate to recovery of carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide from a gas mixture. Separating of the carbon dioxide, for example, from the gas mixture utilizes a liquid sorbent for the carbon dioxide. The liquid sorbent contacts the gas mixture for transfer of the carbon dioxide from the gas mixture to the liquid sorbent. The carbon dioxide then desorbs from the liquid sorbent using hollow-fiber contactors as a source of heat to liberate the carbon dioxide further separated by the hollow-fiber contactors from the liquid sorbent. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120281499 | CONTINUOUS SEISMIC ACQUISITION - The invention relates to a seismic acquisition process where multiple seismic sources are used to acquire seismic energy using encoding so that all of the sources may deliver seismic energy at the same time where the sweeps are arranged to be back to back with no listen time and wherein a pseudo listen time that is uncontaminated is created in the composite data record. After the listen time is created, the composite data may be source separated for further processing and analysis. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20120275266 | SIMULTANEOUS CONVENTIONAL AND PHASE-ENCODED SEISMIC ACQUISITION - The invention relates to a process for two separate seismic crews to work in proximity to one another that would otherwise require expensive time sharing where one crew is a conventional seismic acquisition system and the other is a phase encoded seismic acquisition system. Typically, each recording system would receive seismic energy from the other that neither data set would be very useful. The invention primarily envisions some collaboration between the crews where each adjusts its sweeps to comprise a different time duration so that the energy the other crew's sources are distinguishable in the data set and easily eliminated therefrom. Distinctions may be further enhanced when the two crews use construct their sweeps so that each crew has a distinctly different start frequency and a distinctly different end frequency. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120273195 | METHOD FOR STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE WITH PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL INJECTION - A process for recovering hydrocarbons with steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) with pressure differential injection. | 11-01-2012 |
| 20120267098 | PROCESS OF SEALING A BREAKTHROUGH CREATED DURING THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBONS IN A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION - This invention relates to a method for sealing a breakthrough penetrating an injection well. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120267095 | IN SITU RADIO FREQUENCY CATALYTIC UPGRADING - The present invention relates to a method and system for enhancing in situ upgrading of hydrocarbon by implementing an array of radio frequency antennas that can uniformly heat the hydrocarbons within a producer well pipe, so that the optimal temperatures for different hydroprocessing reactions can be achieved. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120265512 | UPDATING GEOLOGICAL FACIES MODELS USING THE ENSEMBLE KALMAN FILTER - The invention relates to a method for history matching a facies geostatistical model using the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) technique. The EnKF is not normally appropriate for discontinuous facies models such as multiple point simulation (MPS). In the method of the invention, an ensemble of realizations are generated and then uniform vectors on which those realizations are based are transformed to Gaussian vectors before applying the EnKF to the Gaussian vectors directly. The updated Gaussian vectors are then transformed back to uniform vectors which are used to update the realizations. The uniform vectors may be vectors on which the realizations are based directly; alternatively each realization may be based on a plurality of uniform vectors linearly combined with combination coefficients. In this case each realization is associated with a uniform vector made up from the combination coefficients, and the combination coefficient vector is then transformed to Gaussian and updated using EnKF. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120261415 | COLD BOX DESIGN PROVIDING SECONDARY CONTAINMENT - The present invention relates to cryogenic fluids. In another aspect, the present invention relates to additional protection of an apparatus containing equipment capable of operating at cryogenic temperatures and containing cryogenic materials. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120250459 | METHODS FOR SEISMIC FRACTURE PARAMETER ESTIMATION AND GAS FILLED FRACTURE IDENTIFICATION FROM VERTICAL WELL LOG DATA - Methods for fracture characterization of unconventional formations are provided. Synthetic seismic fracture responses can be generated based on the derived fracture parameters. The synthetic seismic fracture responses may then be used to derive optimum seismic data acquisition geometry for fracture characterization. These methods of determining the seismic data acquisition geometry are advantageous over conventional methods in that these methods are more reliable and cheaper than existing empirical methods, particularly as applied to fractured unconventional formations. Moreover, these methods allow fracture parameters to be derived from limited but common well log data. Certain embodiments additionally contemplate determining the presence of gas filled fractures. These characterizations and evaluations of unconventional formations are useful for, among other things, determining optimal producing intervals and optimal drilling locations. These methods can eliminate the use of costly image logs and core data. These methods ultimately translate to more efficient seismic imaging and more optimal hydrocarbon production. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120247781 | SUBSEA HYDROCARBON RECOVERY - The present invention relates to recovery of hydrocarbons being released subsea in an uncontrolled manner. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus, process and system for the recovery of well stream products being released subsea in an uncontrolled manner, optionally under conditions that are conducive to the formation of gas hydrate crystals. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120247760 | DUAL INJECTION POINTS IN SAGD - A method for recovering petroleum from a formation, wherein at least two injection wells and at least one production well are in fluid communication with said formation, comprising: introducing a gaseous mixture into a first and a second injection well at a temperature and a pressure, wherein said gaseous mixture comprises steam and non-condensable gas (NCG); and recovering a fluid comprising petroleum from said production well, wherein said injection wells and a production well are horizontal wells, and wherein said first injection well is disposed 1-10 meters above said production well, and said second injection well is disposed at least 5 meters above said first injection well. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120247327 | HOLLOW-FIBER MEMBRANE CONTACTORS - Methods and apparatus relate to recovery of carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide from a gas mixture. Separating of the carbon dioxide, for example, from the gas mixture utilizes a liquid sorbent for the carbon dioxide. The liquid sorbent contacts the gas mixture along asymmetric hollow-fiber membranes that enable transfer of the carbon dioxide from the gas mixture to the liquid sorbent. | 10-04-2012 |
| 20120241387 | ADVANCED OXIDATION OF KINETIC HYDRATE INHIBITORS - Advanced oxidation process namely ozonation and Fenton's (hydrogen peroxide/Fe: | 09-27-2012 |
| 20120238647 | Methanation Reaction Methods Utilizing Enhanced Catalyst Formulations and Methods of Preparing Enhanced Methanation Catalysts - Enhanced mixed metal catalysts are provided which allow high conversions of carbon dioxide to methane, in some cases up to about 100% conversion. Methods of preparing enhanced mixed metal catalysts comprise a series of steps involving combining nickel and chromium salts with a nucleation promoter in a base environment to form a gel, allowing the gel to digest to form a solid and a mother liquor, isolating the solid, washing the solid, drying the solid, and thermally treating the solid to form a nickel-chromium catalyst. Methanation processes using the catalysts are also provided. The enhanced mixed metal catalysts provide more efficient conversion and lower operating temperatures for carbon dioxide methanation when compared to conventional methanation catalysts. Additionally, these enhanced catalyst formulations allow realization of higher value product from captured carbon dioxide. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120234537 | GRAVITY DRAINAGE STARTUP USING RF & SOLVENT - The method begins by forming a gravity drainage production well pair within a formation comprising an injection well and a production well. The pre-soaking stage begins by soaking at least one of the wellbores of the well pair with a solvent, wherein the solvent does not include water. The pre-heating stage begins by heating the soaked wellbore of the well pair to produce a vapor. The squeezing stage begins by introducing the vapor into the soaked wellbore of the well pair, and can thus overlap with the pre-heating stage. The gravity drainage production begins after the squeezing stage, once the wells are in thermal communication and the heavy oil can drain to the lower well. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120234536 | ENHANCED RECOVERY AND IN SITU UPGRADING USING RF - 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 non-microwave frequency from 0.1 MHz to 300 MHz such that the excited activator heats the heavy oil. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120227966 | IN SITU CATALYTIC UPGRADING - A system and method for in situ upgrading of crude oil is provided. The system includes at least one injection well, at least two first production wells, and at least one second production well. The at least one injection well has a vertical portion and a plurality of non-vertical portions connected to the vertical portion. The at least two first production wells are preferably equi-spaced and each has a horizontal portion with a first axial direction, wherein each said horizontal portion of the first production wells is horizontally spaced apart. The at least one second production well has a horizontal portion with a second axial direction. The catalytic reactor is placed at the horizontal portion of the at least one second production well such that oil coming through the second production well will first go through the catalytic reactor for hydroprocessing. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120227965 | METHOD FOR ACCELERATING START-UP FOR STEAM-ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE (SAGD) OPERATIONS - A method for accelerating start-up for steam assisted gravity drainage operations comprising the steps of: forming a steam-assisted gravity drainage production well pair comprising an injection well and a production well within a formation; beginning a pre-soaking stage by soaking one or both of the wellbores of the well pair with a solvent; beginning a pre-heating stage by heating the wellbores of the well pair; beginning a squeezing stage by injecting steam into the wellbores of the well pair; and beginning steam-assisted gravity drainage production. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120227964 | CARBON DIOXIDE GAS MIXTURE PROCESSING WITH STEAM ASSISTED OIL RECOVERY - Methods and apparatus relate to processing flue gas from oxy-fuel combustion. Steam generated without contact of the steam with the flue gas combines with the flue gas for injection into a formation to facilitate oil recovery from the formation. Fluids produced include the oil and carbon dioxide with a lower concentration of oxygen than present in the flue gas that is injected. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120225489 | MEASURING COKING PROPENSITY - The present application provides a method for measuring coking propensity of a fossil fuel, comprising mixing an iron powder with a fossil fuel, wherein the iron powder has an average particle size of less than or equal to 100 μm; reacting the iron powder with the fossil fuel at a temperature and a pressure sufficient to allow coking for a period of time; separating a supernatant and a solid product after said coking; and analyzing the solid product for carbon content, wherein the carbon content is proportional to the coking propensity. There is also provided is a method for measuring effectiveness of a coking inhibitor. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120222862 | WELL PLUG AND ABANDONMENT CHOKE INSERT - A process for plugging a wellbore comprises installing a choke device ( | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120222426 | INTEGRATED GAS TURBINE, SAGD BOILER AND CARBON CAPTURE - An integrated power generation system for reducing carbon dioxide emissions is provided. The integrated system comprises a gas turbine having an air inlet, a fuel inlet and an exhaust gas outlet; a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) boiler having an inlet connected to the exhaust gas outlet of the gas turbine, a fuel inlet, an optional air inlet, and a flue gas outlet; and a carbon dioxide capture system connected to the flue gas outlet of the SAGD boiler. A method for capturing the carbon dioxide exhausted from a gas turbine and a SAGD boiler is also provided. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120222349 | ONE-STEP HYDRODEOXYGENATION AND REFORMATION OF ALDITOLS - This application provides an efficient method for fuel processing, comprising providing a fluid hydrocarbon fuel feedstock comprising an oxygenate; contacting the feedstock with a catalyst comprising Pt loaded with WO | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120215047 | MOS2 CATALYST FOR THE CONVERSION OF SUGAR ALCOHOL TO HYDROCARBONS - Cellulose and hemicellulose from biomass can be broken down to C6 and C5 sugars and further converted to corresponding sugar alcohols. It is now found that a new catalyst, MoS2, is active for the hydrogenation of sugar alcohols to hydrocarbons. Combining the technologies listed above allows us to convert the cellulose/hemicellulose to liquid hydrocarbons. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120207668 | SOAK AND COKE - There is provided herein a method for producing hydrogen gas, comprising: sorbing a liquid hydrocarbon fuel to a gasification catalyst to form a sorbed hydrocarbon fuel; heating said sorbed hydrocarbon fuel to a first temperature for a first period of time sufficient to form coke; and gasifying said coke at a second temperature at a pressure for a second period of time in the presence of water and/or oxygen, so as to produce hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide and to regenerate said catalyst. In particular, the hydrocarbon fuel can be a liquid biomass, such pyrolysis oil, and the method can be CO | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120204598 | INTEGRATED WASTE HEAT RECOVERY IN LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS FACILITY - The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for liquefying natural gas. In another aspect the present invention relates to the heat recovery from a turbine in a liquefied natural gas facility. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120203524 | QUANTITATIVE METHOD OF DETERMINING SAFE STEAM INJECTION PRESSURE FOR ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY OPERATIONS - This invention relates to a method for determining the safe steam injection pressure for enhanced oil recovery operations. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120186144 | CONDENSATION OF ALCOHOLS FOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION - The present disclosure relates to methods for converting biomass-derived hydrocarbon streams into products suitable for use as fuel additives. These methods involve the acidic condensation of hydrocarbon monofunctional alcohols comprising five or six carbon atoms to form ether condensation products containing at least ten carbon atoms. The oxygenated condensation products can be separated from un-reacted alcohols and gasoline range hydrocarbons to provide an oxygenated fuel additive that may be mixed with a diesel or kerosene-type liquid hydrocarbon fuel to provide an improved fuel that may have an increased cetane number, decreased emissions of environmental pollutants during combustion, or both. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120175191 | CONSTANT LEVEL OILER LEVEL ADJUSTMENT TOOL - Methods and apparatus relates to a tool with a laser to assist with adjustment of a constant level oiler associated with rotating equipment. The tool projects light from the laser onto a housing of the rotating equipment to identify position of a level adjuster of the oiler relative to an oil level marker on the housing of the rotating equipment. The tool includes a portion that is inserted into part of the oiler during use of the tool and is coupled to the laser, which may be moveable from the portion inserted and may have extension from the portion inserted counterbalanced by a weight also coupled to the portion inserted. | 07-12-2012 |
| 20120169343 | FRACTURE DETECTION VIA SELF-POTENTIAL METHODS WITH AN ELECTRICALLY REACTIVE PROPPANT - This invention relates to a method for evaluating and measuring the geometry of a fracture. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120168158 | ENHANCED HYDROCARBON RECOVERY FROM LOW MOBILITY RESERVOIRS - Methods are provided using heated fluids along with combined/drive cyclical injection/production profiles to enhance hydrocarbon recovery from shallow and/or low mobility reservoirs. In certain embodiments, injection and production flow rates to and from the reservoir are varied to beneficially modulate certain pressure drive profiles between a minimum pressure and a maximum pressure. During these drive profile modulations, heated water, solvent, and surfactant are injected into the reservoir. The combination of injected fluids and cyclical pressure drive profiles beneficially enhances hydrocarbon recovery from the reservoir. Other optional variations include using multiple injection and/or production wells. Advantages include accelerated hydrocarbon recovery, higher production efficiencies, and lower costs. These advantages ultimately translate to higher production and/or reduction of total hydrocarbon extraction time. These methods are particularly advantageous when applied to shallow reservoirs (e.g. reservoirs having depths less than or equal to about 150 meters). | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120167452 | ABSORPTION AND QUENCH METHOD FOR BIOMASS PYROLYSIS PRODUCT - A biomass pyrolysis product is quenched by direct cooling with a cold quench fluid and initial product separation is performed based on boiling point and solubility in the quench fluid. A properly chosen quench fluid may act as a selective solvent, thus providing dilution of unstable precursors of pyrolytic lignin or other heavy by-products, and/or separation of certain undesirable pyrolysis oil components such as water and light acids. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120160741 | INTEGRATED FCC BIOMASS PYROLYSIS/UPGRADING - Integrating a biomass pyrolysis and upgrading process into a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The process uses conventional FCC feed and a mixture of a solvent and biomass to produce upgraded fuel products. A slurry stream composed of solid biomass particles and a solvent is fed into an FCC riser through a slurry pump to achieve biomass pyrolysis and in situ pyrolysis oil upgrading. The catalytic cracking of the conventional petroleum feed also occurs in the riser. | 06-28-2012 |
| 20120157742 | PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE FUELS - The present disclosure relates to a process for the conversion of oxygen-containing hydrocarbons into long-chain hydrocarbons suitable for use as a fuel. These hydrocarbons may be derived from biomass, and may optionally be mixed with petroleum-derived hydrocarbons prior to conversion. The process utilizes a catalyst comprising Ni and Mo to convert a mixture comprising oxygenated hydrocarbons into product hydrocarbons containing from ten to thirty carbons. Hydro-conversion can be performed at a significantly lower temperature than is required for when utilizing a hydrotreating catalyst comprising Co and Mo (CoMo), while still effectively removing sulfur compounds (via hydrodesulfurization) to a level of 10 ppm (by weight) or less. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120157732 | CONDENSATION OF DIOLS FOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION - The present disclosure relates to methods for converting biomass-derived streams of hydrocarbon diols into products suitable for use as a biomass-derived fuel additive. These methods involve the condensation of diols comprising five or six carbon atoms to form condensation products containing at least ten carbon atoms. The remaining hydroxyl functional groups of the condensation products are optionally modified to decrease overall polarity of the products, and improve miscibility with liquid hydrocarbon mixtures. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120152529 | ELECTRICAL METHODS FRACTURE DETECTION VIA 4D TECHNIQUES - This invention relates to a method for acquiring and evaluating the geometry of a fracture. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120150519 | ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY SCREENING MODEL - This invention relates to enhanced oil recovery methods to improve hydrocarbon reservoir production. An enhanced oil recovery screening model has been developed which consists of a set of correlations to estimate the oil recovery from miscible and immiscible gas/solvent injection (CO | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120150501 | RESERVOIR GEOBODY CALCULATION - A method for calculating connected productive regions (“geobodies”) in a hydrocarbon reservoir uses an algorithm which visits a cell in a geological model of the reservoir, assigning a geobody identifier if the cell possesses certain threshold characteristics and adding the connected neighbors of each visited cell to a data queue or stack. The data queue is emptied cell by cell, each cell popped out of the queue being assigned the same geobody identifier value and having its own connected neighbors added to the queue. Cells are popped out until the queue is empty and then another cell in the model which has not yet been visited is selected. The process continues until all cells have been visited. Cells may also be pre-identified as being part of a well; in this case the algorithm will also establish well connectivity. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120146648 | AUTONOMOUS ELECTRICAL METHODS NODE - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for evaluating and measuring the geometry of a fracture. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120144733 | CONDENSATION OF GLYCOLS TO PRODUCE BIOFUELS - The present disclosure relates to methods for converting light glycol streams of biological origin into products suitable for use as oxygenated fuel additives. These methods involve the acidic condensation of light glycols to form larger products, termed low molecular weight poly-glycols. The remaining hydroxyl functional groups of the poly-glycol products are then modified to decrease the overall polarity of the products, and improve their suitability for use as an oxygenated fuel additive. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120143508 | AUTOMATIC ESTIMATION OF SOURCE ROCK PETROPHYSICAL PROPERTIES - An empirical method of measuring water saturation in hydrocarbon bearing formations is described. The system described herein accurately calculates water saturation, shale volume, volume of total organic carbon, and other formation parameters under a variety of formation conditions. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120132183 | HIGH CETANE RENEWABLE FUELS - A method for reducing the emissions of a diesel engine using a RHE-diesel fuel. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20120132182 | HIGH CETANE PETROLEUM FUELS - A high-efficiency diesel fuel and method of combustion that reduces emissions. The diesel engine can operate in pre-mixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) combustion. The method can involve injecting high-efficiency diesel fuel at from −8 to 0 degrees After Top Dead Center (ATDC), combusting the fuel, and operating the engine with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) of from 20 to 60%. | 05-31-2012 |
| 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 |
