Abstract:
A method of operating a filtration unit of a filtration system includes feeding, during filtration, feed water containing suspended particulate material to an inside of each of a plurality of hollow fibres through a first inlet and a second inlet of each hollow fibre while simultaneously removing a filtrate from an outside of each of the hollow fibres through an outlet of a filtration elements. In addition, the method includes feeding, during back-washing, back-wash water to the outside of the hollow fibres through the outlet of the filtration element. Further the method includes discharging, in a first back-wash cycle, back-wash water containing entrained particulate material from the inside of the hollow fibres from one end thereof. Still further, the method includes discharging, in a second back-wash cycle, back-wash water containing entrained particulate material from the inside of the hollow fibres from the other end thereof.
Abstract:
A seismic survey apparatus includes a body having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an inner cavity positioned between the first end and the second end. In addition, the seismic survey apparatus includes a proof mass moveably disposed in the inner cavity of the body. The proof mass is configured to move axially relative to the body. Further, the seismic survey apparatus includes a first sensor disposed in the inner cavity. The first sensor comprises a first piezoelectric element configured to detect the axial movement of the proof mass relative to the body. Still further, the seismic survey apparatus includes electronic circuitry coupled to the first piezoelectric element. The electronic circuitry is configured to receive and process an output of the first piezoelectric element. The proof mass comprises a power supply configured to provide electrical power to the electronic circuitry.
Abstract:
A method for recovering crude oil from a reservoir that is penetrated by at least one injection well includes injecting an aqueous displacement fluid into the reservoir from the injection well. The displacement fluid includes a solution of a zinc salt in an aqueous base fluid. The aqueous base fluid has a total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration in the range of 200 to 250,000 ppmv (parts per million based on the volume of the aqueous base fluid) and a viscosity in the range of 1.00 to 2.00 centipoise (cP) at standard temperature and pressure. The aqueous displacement fluid has a dissolved zinc concentration in the range of 10 to 3,750 ppmv. The aqueous displacement fluid includes dissolved chloride. The molar ratio of dissolved chloride to dissolved zinc in the aqueous displacement fluid is at least 5:1.
Abstract:
The invention provides a pump comprising a pump inlet, a pump outlet, at least two threaded rotors and a pressure controlled valve, the pressure controlled valve being capable of controlling re-circulation of fluid from the pump outlet to the pump inlet. The pressure controlled valve can be a control valve. The invention also provides a multiple stage pump assembly comprising at least two pumps arranged in series, wherein at least one of the pumps is the aforementioned pump.
Abstract:
A method for recovering crude oil from a reservoir that is penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well wherein the reservoir comprises a first carbonate rock layer and a second carbonate rock layer each having crude oil and a resident water present within the pore space thereof, the method comprising: isolating the second rock layer from direct hydraulic communication with the injection well; and injecting an injection water having a total-dissolved-solids (TDS) content lower than the TDS content of the resident water from the injection well into the first rock layer thereby forming a sulfate enriched aqueous displacement fluid through dissolution of water-soluble sulfate minerals from the first rock layer into the injection water wherein the displacement fluid flows through the first rock layer and from the first rock layer into and through the second rock layer thereby displacing oil towards the production well.
Abstract:
Desalination plant containing a plurality of membrane trains each having a plurality of RO membrane units and a plurality of NF membrane units. The ratio of RO membrane units to NF membrane units in each membrane train is in the range of 2:1 to 40:1, and each membrane train is provided with (a) a feed line for a source water that divides to provide a feed line for the RO membrane units and a feed line for the NF membrane units, (b) a permeate line for the RO membrane units and a permeate line for the NF membrane units that combine to provide an injection water line; (c) a retentate line for the RO membrane units and a retentate line for the NF membrane units; and (d) a flow controller and pressure let-down valve on the NF feed line.
Abstract:
A computer-implemented method for configuring operating conditions for at least one of desalination equipment and fluid injection equipment to be used in a low salinity waterflood on a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir is provided. The reservoir is penetrable by an injection well and a production well. The method comprises deriving an ion diffusion distance value from: a diffusion coefficient indicative of a rate of diffusion of ions through relatively permeable layers of the reservoir when the low salinity water is present therein; and a residence time value indicative of the time required for the low salinity water to pass from the injection well to the production well through the reservoir; comparing the thickness of the relatively permeable layers to the derived ion diffusion distance value; generating an indication of the effectiveness of performing a low salinity waterflood; and configuring said operating conditions based on the indication of the effectiveness.
Abstract:
A computer-implemented method and corresponding system for determining the concentration of one or more scale inhibiting polymers in a fluid received from one or more porous and permeable hydrocarbon-bearing rock formations is provided. Each polymer comprises a different chemical marker and the fluid comprises a plurality of commingled said scale inhibiting polymers. The method comprises receiving first input data representing a measured absorption spectrum, within a predetermined wavelength range, of the commingled scale inhibiting polymers, wherein the measured absorption spectrum is measured using a detector after chromatographic separation of the fluid; receiving second input data representing reference absorption spectra, the reference absorption spectra comprising: a) an absorption spectrum, over the predetermined wavelength range, of each of the scale inhibiting polymers; and b) baseline reference absorption spectra of other chemicals having absorbance values within the predetermined wavelength range that are expected to be present in the fluid; inputting the first and second input data into a computer program; and operating the computer program. The computer program is operated to, at each of a plurality of discrete time steps over an elution time from the separation, determine a factor for each reference absorption spectrum that results in a modelled spectrum comprising a best-fit linear combination of the second input data to the first input data. For each scale inhibiting polymer, the computer program also operates to use the factors corresponding to the absorption spectrum of said scale inhibiting polymer that have been determined for a predetermined number of said discrete time steps to determine an indication of the concentration of the scale inhibiting polymer.
Abstract:
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for radiographic inspection of an underwater object comprising: an x-ray source for generating an x-ray beam for directing at an object under inspection; and a power supply, for supplying electrical power to the x-ray source; wherein the x-ray source comprises a circular-path particle accelerator, which circular-path particle accelerator comprises a circular-path particle chamber and an electromagnetic accelerator for accelerating electrons within the chamber, and the power supply comprises at least one solid state capacitor for providing an alternating discharge current to drive the electromagnetic accelerator in the x-ray source. There is also provided a method for the radiographic inspection of an underwater object.
Abstract:
A member is moved within a well bore in a plurality of cycles, each cycle including holding the member in slips, releasing the slips, moving the member within the well bore and applying the slips. The hook load is measured at multiple points during each of these cycles and the plurality of measured values are used to identify data indicative of the forces on the member within the well bore.