Abstract:
The present invention provides a method of inhibiting formation of solid hydrates in a conduit (10) used to contain a flowing, water-containing hydrocarbon, which method comprises introducing into said hydrocarbon in said conduit a gas (4, 5, 6) which raises the pressure threshold for hydrate formation for said water-containing hydrocarbon, said gas being introduced in a manner which causes it to travel along at least part of said conduit in the direction of hydrocarbon flow.
Abstract:
A water-going liquefied carbon dioxide (LCD) transport vessel comprising a pressurised and refrigerated LCD container, a cargo discharge pump within said container for pumping LCD out of said container along a conduit, a booster pump for pumping LCD along the conduit to a platform, a first backflow line downstream of the cargo pump to the container, a second backflow line from downstream of the booster pump to the container, and optionally a heater arranged to heat LCD flowing from said vessel along the conduit.
Abstract:
A method of producing an alumina-supported catalyst for use in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, which comprises: calcining an initial γ-alumina support material at a temperature of at least 550°C to produce a modified alumina support material; impregnating the modified alumina support material with a source cobalt; calcining the impregnated support material at a temperature of 700°C to 1200°C, and activating the catalyst.
Abstract:
This invention relates to a method for the production of particulate carbon products in a reactor vessel wherein gas flow between a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port suspends a bed of catalyst-containing particulate material in said vessel and wherein the product is discharged from said vessel by falling from the bed.
Abstract:
Processing seismic data representing a physical system A method is provided for processing seismic data representing a physical system, such as seismic reflection data representing a region of the Earth. The method forms a difference (2) between first and second measured data (1) representing the system in first and second states, respectively, for example at different times. The difference is inverted (5) in accordance with a parameterised model (3, 4) of the physical system to obtain changes (6, 7) in the parameters of the model.
Abstract:
Degasser with control means, comprising: a pipe formed separation chamber with an upstream end where fluid that is passed in by use of a spin element in the upstream end is set into rotation and separated into; a heavier fraction that essentially is accumulated along the inner pipe wall of the separation chamber and is taken out through an outlet in a downstream end of the separation chamber; an a lighter fraction essentially accumulated along the longitudinal axis of the separation chamber, from where an outlet pipe is arranged for delivery of the lighter fraction to; a control separator arranged to separate out any entrained heavier fraction from the lighter fraction, which entrained heavier fraction is taken out through tan outlet pipe from a bottom zone filled with heavier fraction in the control separator, preferably for delivery thereof to the heavier fraction from the separation chamber, while the lighter fraction is taken out from the control separator through a separate outlet pipe. The degasser is distinguished by an orifice/nozzle with differential pressure transmitter for transmitting the differential pressure over the orifice/nozzle arranged in the outlet pipe for the lighter phase from the separation chamber to the control separator, said differential pressure being used as basis for controlling a valve arranged in said outlet pipe.
Abstract:
The invention relates to flexible risers system for transfer of hydrocarbons between a sea bed installation and a vessel (10) floating at the sea surface. The riser (18) is provided with means (20) for protecting the riser (18) from impacts. The protection means (20) covers at least the upper part of the riser (18) and may be retractable to an in-active position. When in operation, the riser protection means (20) is either suspended from the vessel (10) or from a submerged turret buoy, forming part of a mooring system for the vessel (10). At its lower end the protection means (20) is provided with an annular body (22) surrounding the riser (18), the annular body (22) having sufficient weight to provide a downwardly acting force in the riser protection means (20), causing a stretch or a tension in the riser protection means (20).
Abstract:
A method for increasing oil recovery from an oil reservoir in which method surplus gas streams from a plant for synthesis of higher hydrocarbons from natural gas is injected into the reservoir, is described. The surplus streams from the plant is the tailgas from the synthesis and optionally nitrogen from an air separation unit which delivers oxygen or oxygen enriched air to the plant for synthesis of higher hydrocarbons.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a loading system for transfer of hydrocarbons between an installation on the sea bed (16) and a floating vessel (10) in areas exposed to drifting ice. The system comprises a submerged turret buoy (19), a flexible riser (18) extending from the sea bed installation (24) to the buoy (19) intended to be securely connected to a corresponding pipe on board the vessel (10), and a plurality of mooring lines (17) connected to the buoy (19) and extending outwards therefrom. The system further comprises: protective means (20) for protecting the riser (18) from impacts when the riser (18) is in an extended, load transferring mode, and a protective structure (24) located in or on the sea bed (16) for protection of the riser (18) when in a retracted position in a non-operative mode; that the protective structure (24) containing means (28) for storing the riser (18) in a protected position when disconnected and retracted from the vessel (10). The invention also relates to a method for mooring a vessel to a submerged turret buoy and a method for installing a riser protection means.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of detecting, characterising or monitoring a hydrocarbon source, which method comprises the genotypic analysis of a sample for the presence of one or more thermophilic or extremophilic microorganisms and in particular to the generation of microbiological profiles of samples and to the comparison of these profiles with profiles from reference samples.