Abstract:
A catalyst useful for the production of olefins from alkanes via oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) is disclosed. The catalyst includes a silicon carbide support. The catalyst may optionally include a base metal, metal oxide, or combination thereof. A base metal is herein defined as a non-Group VIII metal, with the exception of iron, cobalt and nickel. Suitable base metals include Group IB-VIIB metals, Group IIIA-VA metals, Lanthanide metals, iron, cobalt and nickel. Suitable metal oxides include alumina, stabilized aluminas, zirconia, stabilized zirconias (PSZ), titania, ytteria, silica, niobia, and vanadia. Additionally, the catalyst may optionally include a Group VIII promoter. Suitable Group VIII promoters include Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, and Pt.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to thermally stable, high surface area alumina supports and a method of preparing such supports with at least one modifying agent. The method includes adding an aluminum modifying agent to the alumina prior to calcining. The inventive support has thermal stability at temperatures above 800null C. A more specific embodiment of the invention is a catalyst having a high surface area, thermally stable alumina support with at least one group VIII metal or rhenium and an optional promoter loaded onto the support. The present invention further relates to gas-to-liquids conversion processes, more specifically for producing C5null hydrocarbons.
Abstract:
This invention relates to methods for making a stabilized transition alumina of enhanced hydrothermal stability, which include the introduction of at least one structural stabilizer; a steaming step before or after the introduction step, wherein steaming is effective in transforming a transition alumina at least partially to boehmite and/or pseudoboehmite; and a calcining step to create a stabilized transition alumina. The combination of the structural stabilizer and the steaming step is believed to impart high hydrothermal stability to the alumina crystal lattice. Particularly preferred structural stabilizers include boron, cobalt, and zirconium. The stabilized transition alumina is useful as a catalyst support for high water partial pressure environments, and is particularly useful for making a catalyst having improved hydrothermal stability. The invention more specifically discloses Fischer-Tropsch catalysts and processes for the production of hydrocarbons from synthesis gas.
Abstract:
Methods are disclosed for preparing hydrothermally-stable structurally-promoted refractory-oxide catalyst supports, which includes mixing precursors of the refractory oxide and of at least one structural promoter and calcining the mixture. The methods feature the incorporation of at least one structural promoter into the lattice of a refractory-oxide material such as alumina. The hydrothermally-stable structurally-promoted refractory-oxide catalyst supports are useful in hydrothermal catalytic processes such as Fischer-Tropsch reactions.
Abstract:
Methods for producing clean liquid/wax products from a slurry used in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor are disclosed. In general, one embodiment of the present invention comprises a solid/liquid filtration system having a filter medium comprising a substrate and a filter cake deposited on the substrate, wherein the filter cake is generated by deposition of solids from the slurry. The thickness of the filter cake can be maintained within a desired range by controlling the slurry velocity and/or the pressure differential across the filter medium. This invention relates to a method of operation of such filtration system which increases filtration cycle time and improved filtrate quality resulting in very low solid content in filtrate.
Abstract:
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to analyzing subterranean cylindrical structures using acoustic sensing. On example includes: sending first acoustic waves in the wellbore via a radial acoustic sensor; receiving first reflection waves associated with the first acoustic waves via the radial acoustic sensor; sending second acoustic waves in the wellbore via the radial acoustic sensor; receiving second reflection waves associated with the second acoustic waves via the radial acoustic sensor; processing recorded data associated with the first acoustic waves, the first reflection waves, the second acoustic waves, and the second reflection waves, wherein the first acoustic waves are associated with a first radial direction, and wherein the second acoustic waves are associated with a second radial direction, the second radial direction being opposite the first radial direction; and generating a plot for identification of one or more isolation regions in the wellbore based on the processing.
Abstract:
A method for creating access to annular spacing during plug and abandonment operations is described. Specifically, helical coils are cut into one or more casings before the plugging material is set. The plugging material is able to exit the helical coils, forming multiple, small rock-to-rock seals.
Abstract:
A process for removing an obstruction (13) caused by gas hydrates or water ice from the tubing (12) of a hydrocarbon production or injection well or a riser using a microwave. The process comprises passing a microwave generating and emitting tool (5) on wireline (8) down the tubing (12) and supplying electrical power to the tool via the wireline (8) or from a battery to produce microwave energy and direct it to the gas hydrate and/or water ice deposit (13), thereby melting deposit and unblocking the well.
Abstract:
The invention relates to the drilling of wells in rock and hydrocarbon formations. Drilling is performed with a drill string having a bottom hole assembly (BHA) and drill bit. Drilling mud is circulated during drilling. A valved inlet port is provided in the BHA which, in the event of a pack-off, opens and allows drilling mud to enter an internal space in the BHA to relieve pressure. An outlet port at the proximal end of the BHA may be provided to allow the mud to flow back into the annulus around the drill string. In this way, rapid build-up of pressure is avoided and the driller has more time to respond to the pack-off.
Abstract:
Monitoring and diagnosing completion during hydraulic fracturing operations provides insights into the fracture geometry, inter-well frac hits and connectivity. Conventional monitoring methods (microseismic, borehole gauges, tracers, etc.) can provide a range of information about the stimulated rock volume but may often be limited in detail or clouded by uncertainty. Utilization of DAS as a fracture monitoring tool is growing, however most of the applications have been limited to acoustic frequency bands of the DAS recorded signal. In this paper, we demonstrate some examples of using the low-frequency band of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) signal to constrain hydraulic fracture geometry. DAS data were acquired in both offset horizontal and vertical monitor wells. In horizontal wells, DAS data records formation strain perturbation due to fracture propagation. Events like fracture opening and closing, stress shadow creation and relaxation, ball seat and plug isolation can be clearly identified. In vertical wells, DAS response agrees well with co-located pressure and temperature gauges, and illuminates the vertical extent of hydraulic fractures. DAS data in the low-frequency band is a powerful attribute to monitor small strain and temperature perturbation in or near the monitor wells. With different fibered monitor well design, the far-field fracture length, height, width, and density can be accurately measured using cross-well DAS observations.