Texaco Inc.

Thomas G Scott

Alvin J Sustek, Jr

Frederick B Seufert

Edward J Hanzlik

An improved process for extracting hydrocarbons from a diatomite ore which comprises the combination of the steps of: a) Reducing the particle size of the ore to form a processed ore; b) Grinding the processed ore in an enclosed pin mixer to form pelletized ore; c) Feeding the pellets into each section of a ROTOCEL.RTM. extractor unit containing 5-8 sections or baskets to form columns of pelletized ore; d) Distributing a solvent from the top of each column of the ROTOCEL.RTM. extractor and allowing the solvent to permeate the pelletized ore column to form a hydrocarbon-rich solvent stream while leaving behind spent ore mixture; e) Separating extracting solvent from the hydrocarbon solvent stream to form a hydrocarbon product stream and an extracting solvent stream; f) Removing the spent ore mixture from the extracting zone; g) Recycling the extracting solvent; and h) Recovering the hydrocarbon product.

Process for extracting hydrocarbons from diatomite

Continuous steam quality monitoring is obtained by bleeding the steam through an orifice to generate acoustic energy. An acoustic transducer is coupled to the wall that contains the orifice. And, an amplifier with a narrow band acoustic frequency filter is employed so as to produce an output signal having an amplitude that is proportional to the quality of the steam.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Thomas G Scott