Texaco Inc.

Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Texaco Group, Inc.

James R Stoy

James L Schrodt

Mark T Rubel

Winthrop K Brown

Eric L Berger

Victor Diatschenko

Seyi Abiodun Odueyungbo

Edward A Woerheide

Stephen S Wheeler

Paul F Bryan

Lalit S Shah

Lee D Rhyne

Anna Nicole Ledoux

Bruce Edward Reynolds

Michael M Dach

Christopher Alan Powers

Ming He

Jackie R Boyles

Andre R Da Costa

Rich Walter Barkley

James Lindsey Schrodt

Jon Andrew Branson

Fred D Brent

A method of recovering unsupported fine catalyst from heavy oil comprises combining a slurry comprising unsupported fine catalyst in heavy oil with solvent to form a combined slurry-solvent stream. The combined slurry-solvent stream is filtered in a deoiling zone. A stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent is recovered from the deoiling zone. Unsupported fine catalyst is separated from the stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent. Filtering in the deoiling zone can comprise filtering the slurry and solvent through a cross-flow microfiltration unit, recovering a retentate stream of the cross-flow microfiltration unit, combining the retentate stream of the cross-flow microfiltration unit with solvent to form a combined retentate-solvent stream, and filtering the combined retentate-solvent stream through a cross-flow microfiltration unit.

Recovery of slurry unsupported catalyst

Method and apparatus for separating components of a slurry comprising solid particles and liquid components, particularly where the slurry is under pressure. The components are separated in a hydrocyclone such that a solids-enriched slurry exits the separator via an underflow outlet while a solids-depleted slurry exits the separator through an overflow outlet and passes into a products vessel. Fluid communication is provided between the products vessel and the underflow outlet so that gas can circulate through the hydrocyclone. This gas circulation pathway may be achieved by enclosing the separation system in a housing or providing a gas circulation conduit between the products vessel and the underflow outlet of the separator or an optional solids vessel connected to the underflow outlet. Pressure within the separator apparatus may be adjusted and controlled at a negative, neutral or positive pressure while operating the hydrocyclone in balanced mode to achieve efficient separation. Where the slurry is derived from a high pressure and/or high temperature reactor and the solid components of the slurry include catalyst particles that are to be reclaimed and recycled to the reactor, the separator apparatus is preferably operated at substantially the same pressure that is found in the reactor.

Method and apparatus for separating solids from a slurry

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for adjusting, measuring and controlling the vapor/liquid ratio of wet steam in the output line of a pipe junction in a two phase fluid flow line. The vapor phase and liquid phase of the two phase fluid are separated in the main flow line of the junction and the volume flow rate of each phase measured. The two phases are recombined at the plane of symmetry of the output line of the junction and the liquid flow rate is controlled and varied through an adjustable valve in a liquid phase bypass flow line.

Method and apparatus for measuring and adjustably controlling

Equal distribution of two phase fluid between tow outlets is assured by an assembly which switches full fluid flow alternately between the two outlets on a timed basis. Distribution can be made for either impact T or branch T junctions without a quality variance as full flow is always directed into one or the other of the two outlets.

Methods for positively assuring the equal distribution of liquid and

Changes in the internal diameter of a fluid handling pipes are measured by measuring the vibrational characteristics by a non-invasive, passive acoustic technique. Deviations from the normal vibrational characteristics are sensed and used to determine changes of increase or decrease in the pipe's internal diameter.

Passive acoustic method of measuring the effective internal diameter of

In a hydrotreating process a two phase flow splitter is used in combination with parallel heat exchanger trains for heat transfer stability. Flow maldistribution of liquid and vapor between heat exchanger trains is thereby avoided without more complex feedback control. The two phase flow splitter is inherently phase volume ratio stable. Prior methods of flow splitting were only phase volume ratio metastable. Improved heat recovery at lower equipment cost is thereby achieved.

Hydrotreating process with two phase flow splitting and heat recovery

Steam quality at both outlets of an impact T-Junction is equalized by a static mixer having corrugated lamella plates immediately adjacent the inlet leg to the junction causing substantial homogenization of the liquid and vapor phases of wet steam entering the junction so that the steam exiting both outlet legs of the junction will have substantially the same quality as the steam entering the junction.

Method for equalizing steam quality in pipe networks

The present invention determines the presence of a pig in a pipeline and the condition of the pig, as regards to the material the pig may be pushing, by passive acoustic detectors which determine the acoustic characteristics for the pipe and the pig. From these a computer is used to determine from changes in these characteristics the nature of the materials picked up by the pig or the condition of the pig and the pipe.

Passive acoustic detection of pipeline pigs

A method has been discovered for determining the quality of steam reading a subterranean formation through a well bore. The steam is passed through a choke which imparts critical flow characteristics. A turbine meter is calibrated at the surface at known conditions and then positioned in the well where the steam quality value is required. The turbine meter is used in combination with the Saturated Steam Table to determine steam quality.

Method of determining the quality of steam for stimulating hydrocarbon

A multi-phase fluid flow meter based on passive and non-intrusive acoustics is described for use in field applications on pipes. The present design uses the pipe's characteristic acoustic frequency and its amplitude variation in conjunction with a differential pressure measurement to obtain the total mass flow rates and mass flow rates of each phase. In addition to the mass flow rates the void/liquid fraction, fluid velocities and densities become viable estimates. Instrument construction is simple and very robust, allowing for use in extreme environments. This includes down hole as well as surface measurements.

Acoustic gas-liquid flow meter

Unequal phase splitting at branch T pipe junctions, wherein the branch line is of substantially lesser diameter than the main line, is substantially eliminated by structure (either a weir or sump) in the main line which collects at least a portion of the liquid phase and a bypass line which connects the weir or sump to the branch line downstream of a constriction creating a reduced pressure section in the branch pipe.

Method and apparatus for controlling phase splitting at branch T pipe

A low-cost low-pressure drop critical flow venturi is formed from a single rigid member with mirror image inlet and diffuser sections. The mirror imaging allows the member to be mounted in a flow stream, without regard to the direction of flow, and to still be operative.

Low-pressure-drop critical flow venturi

Steam quality at both outlets of a T junction is equalized by a static mixer immediately adjacent the inlet to the junction causing substantial homogenization of the liquid and vapor phases of wet steam entering the junction so that the steam exiting both legs of the junction will have substantially the same quality as the steam entering the junction.

Device to equalize steam quality in pipe networks

A method and apparatus for detecting the flow regime of multiphase fluid flowing in a closed pipeline system utilizes an entirely passive acoustical detector means. The acoustical pattern detected by the detector means is amplified and compared to known patterns to identify the flow regime according to its acoustical fingerprint.

Passive acoustic detection of flow regime in a multi-phase fluid flow

A system by which a supplier of wet steam may allocate and measure the mass flow rate and quality of steam delivered to a demand user and one or more secondary users with the wet steam delivered to each user being measured for purposes of billing. Pressure regulator means between the demand customer and the secondary customers responsive to pressure changes caused by the amount of steam going to the demand customer. The demand customer thus being able to take from 0 to 100% of the steam generator output with the remaining steam being allocated to the secondary customers.

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Missouri City, TX, United States of America

James R Stoy