ALBERT

Description: A system capable of operating in downhole conditions at depths of several thousand meters is developed for measuring drilling engineering parameters (DEP) in real time. The aim is to monitor DEP during drilling, including the weight on the drill bit (WOB), torque on the drill bit (TOB), and lateral force on the drill bit. The design of the structure and parameters of the sensors, calibration of the sensors, and the field test results are described. Four separate strain gages and a measuring system are designed to measure DEP in the downhole during drilling in real time. The field tests show that the designs are sound. The measured axial force is greater than the calculated value, which means that the real WOB is higher than the logging WOB and the real TOB is greater than the logging torque. Thus, the survey instruments can meet the requirements for rotary steerable drilling and conventional drilling. The measured WOB and TOB data can also be used to analyze drill string vibrations.

Description: The possibility of predicting motor oil behavior at high and low (moderate) temperatures is shown, and based on this a model that allows prediction of deposit forming tendency of oil at high (HTD) and low (LTD) temperatures is built within the framework of formulation of a physicomechanical (or motochemical) approach. The specific nature of HTD and LTD formation is associated with the peculiarities of disperse phase behavior, which is realized in various degrees of filling of the phase surface by oil additives and is expressed in the difference of temperature stability of surface (protective) layers.

Description: Asphaltenes of various heavy oil resids are oxidized by aqueous sodium percarbonate solutions at 200°C and 4 MPa pressure. The composition and properties of the obtained products are analyzed. Water-soluble oxidation products in the asphaltene oxidation products comprise 47.4-49.4%. Products of oxidative condensation of asphaltenes enriched with hydroxyl, ether, and carboxyl groups dominate in the composition of water-insoluble oxidation products. The water-soluble oxidation products represent carboxylic acid concentrate. The characteristics of the structural-group composition of the obtained oxidation products are disclosed. The possibility of practical utilization of asphaltene oxidation products as adhesion additives to road asphalt and for removal of phenol from water is demonstrated.

Description: Apparent kinetic parameters of carbon dioxide sorption from biogas using solutions produced by suspending calcined dolomite are given. The optimum and effective CO 2 absorption temperature is 20°C. Kinetic calculations show that the apparent absorption order and the apparent absorption rate constant decrease with a rise of temperature. It is shown that the CO 2 absorption rate is a direct function of CO 2 partial pressure and an inverse function of temperature. A dolomite solution obtained by filtration of a 1% dolomite suspension in water is recommended for CO 2 absorption.

Description: Experiments were performed on catalytic hydrogen-free upgrading of low-octane gasoline fractions on zeolite-containing catalysts with various silicate moduli. Chromatographic analysis showed the influence of a change in the molecular-sieve characteristics of zeolite-containing catalysts on the individual and group composition of the obtained gasolines. It was found to be expedient to combine zeolite-containing catalysts with various silicate moduli in the catalyst composite in order to increase the conversion of the feedstock fraction.

Description: The patterns of change in component and structural-group composition of bituminous binders modified by oxygen-containing compounds and finely dispersed Mn (II) oxide are determined. Manganese ions, taking part in high-temperature oxidation-reduction reactions of modifier compounds containing acyl radicals and double bonds, are capable of forming oxy-radicals in the presence of air oxygen. The content of alcohol-benzene resins, aromatic structures, and carbonyl groups increases in the samples. The obtained samples of modified binders have improved adhesive and low-temperature properties, which allow production of high-strength asphalt concrete surfacings.

Description: Deep and superdeep reservoirs over 5000 m deep are continually being discovered and developed in Western China, particularly in the Tarim Basin. The low pressure in these reservoirs makes it necessary to run sucker-rod pumps to great depths, which increases the load on the polished rod and creates pumping problems in deep wells. This study examines two rod-load-reduction techniques for deep wells, one using composite fiberglass-steel rods and the other using load reducers for the rods. The effects of these techniques on polished-rod load reduction are evaluated by calculation based on well operation data and comparison of the two techniques. Energy efficiency is analyzed by calculating the torque based on the difference between the maximum and minimum loads on the polished rod. The study results show that composite fiberglass-steel rods reduce the maximum load by 35.7% and that the load reducer decreases the load by an average of 22.8%, which is a significant outcome. The composite fiberglass-steel rod is more energy efficient than the load reducer.

Description: Condensation of sulfanilamide with acid anhydrides produced the corresponding amide derivatives, which on treatment with hydrazine hydrate yielded the hydrazones. The structures of the prepared compounds were confirmed by IR, PMR, and 13 C NMR spectroscopy and x-ray crystallography.

Description: We have measured the shape of the luminous zone in a laminar jet diffusion flame burning methane, ethylene, and propane in quiescent air in the pressure range 0.02-0.1 MPa. Soot emission by the flame was not permitted. The flame became more slender and luminous as the pressure increased. At relatively high fuel flow rates, the ethylene and propane flame heights increased with pressure. At low fuel flow rate, the flame height decreased as pressure increased for all three fuels. At high fuel flow rate, the methane flame height first decreased and then increased with pressure, due to the low tendency of methane to form soot. Finally, we observed a tendency toward decreasing – increasing – decreasing flame height at certain fuel flow rates and in certain pressure ranges.

Description: A voltammetric “electronic tongue” is proposed to identify motor oils. For this, carbon-paste electrodes (CPE) are developed that contain motor oil paste. It is shown by the method of projections to latent structures (PLS) that there are functional correlations between nitro compound marker reducing currents at the proposed CPE and physicochemical properties of motor oils. The possibility of voltammetric identification of motor oils is shown using chemometric methods of principal components analysis (PCA) and soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMKA) with respect to square wave voltammograms of organic marker compounds (o- and p-isomers of aromatic nitro compounds) at carbon-paste electrodes containing the oils to be identified as the binder.

Description: Drilling gas-drainage holes in soft coal seams is essential for preventing coal and gas explosions. After analyzing and summarizing the advantages and disadvantages of existing spiral drilling and wind-pressure drilling processes, a new technology of drilling in soft coal seams using a foam drilling fluid is proposed in this paper. Experiments were conducted to determine the optimal drilling fluid formula for drilling to depths greater than 200 m. The most effective foam stabilizers are selected and correlations of foam half-life and volume with stabilizer concentration were found. Based on an analysis and comparison of all drilling fluid formulas, the recommended additives are 5% K 12 + 0.6% Sesbania powder + 1.0% Konjac powder or 5% K 12 + 0.8% Sesbania powder + 1.0% HEC. In field tests, five holes deeper than 200 m were drilled successfully by using this formula.

Description: The amount of heat radiated by flares is important for designing and locating flare systems. No methods are described in the literature for predicting radiation of enclosed ground flares. To investigate radiation of enclosed ground flares, a series of gas flares were simulated in this work by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The radiation values derived by CFD simulation match the experimental data. For methane, propane, and butane flaring, the radiation flux of 15.77 kW/m 2 was attained only above the flare system, so radiation will not affect the integrity of the structures. The radiation flux at the ground level was below 1.58 kW/m 2 , so this area is safe for personnel. For hydrogen, the radius of isopleth of radiation flux of 15.77 kW/m 2 can reach 33 m, so towers and elevated structures should not be located in these areas. The radius of isopleth of radiation flux of 6.31 kW/m 2 can reach 70 m, and on the ground the radius of isopleth of 1.58 kW/m 2 radiation flux can reach 120 m. Radiation decreases with increase in enclosed ground flare height, so the safe distance of enclosed ground flare can be reduced by increasing the ground flare height.

Description: Quantitative evaluation of rock drillability is of vital importance for selecting drilling bits and optimizing drilling parameters. The existing drillability evaluation methods are mostly designed for balanced and near-balanced drilling situation (roughly 0 bottomhole differential pressure), while investigations of under-balanced drilling are rare. In this work, rock drillability and acoustic velocity testing devices are used to investigate rock drillability in an under-balanced drilling situation. The experimental results showed that bottomhole differential pressure produces a great impact on both rock drillability and acoustic characteristics. Mathematical statistics methods have been applied to analyze the correlations between rock drillability and acoustic characteristics as well as between differential pressure and acoustic characteristics, and to build a model for forecasting rock drillability under various bottomhole differential pressures. The model provides a sound approach to quantitative assessment of rock drillability based on log data.

Description: The effect of gallium and its combination with zirconium on the acid and catalytic properties of pentasil in the upgrading of straight-run fractions in the absence of hydrogen was studied. Hydrogenation–dehydrogenation sites and medium–strength acid sites are formed upon the concurrent modification of phosphorus–containing N–Ultrasil by gallium and zirconium. An optimal ratio of these sites is achieved for Zr:Ga mass ratio 1:1 and this increases the rate of isomerization of nparaffins and the rate of aromatization of aliphatic and naphthenic hydrocarbons. Insertion of phosphorus into zeolite leads to an increased yield of liquid products due to weakening and redistribution of the acid sites.

Description: The composition of the structural fragments of resinous and asphaltic molecules in Usinsk heavy oil containing C – S sulfide bonds and of organosulfur compounds in the oily components of this petroleum was studied. The composition of the sulfur–containing fragments of the asphaltenes was studied separately for their low– and high–molecularweight fractions and occluded maltenes. Alkanes, naphthenes, mono and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dibenzothiophenes, and monobasic aliphatic acids were found in the fragments of the resinous–asphaltic compounds linked by sulfide bridges. The sulfur–containing structures of the oily components are represented by alkyl–substituted thiophenes, benzo, dibenzo, and benzonaphthothiophenes, and bicyclic sulfides. Heat treatment of this petroleum leads to decomposition of the resins and asphaltenes at the sulfide bridges and transition of individual fragments in the distillates, which must be taken into account in upgrading procedures.

Description: Thermocracking products of high-sulfur Mordovo-Karmal asphalt/bitumen containing 3.7 wt. % sulfur and 6.7 wt. % ibp-200 °C fraction are analyzed. Additional 8.1% ibp-360°C fraction can be obtained by cracking the bitumen at 450 °C for 120 min with maximum gas and coke yield totaling more than 20 wt. %. The effect of fly ash microspheres on the direction of transformations of bitumen components is studied. Bitumen cracking in the presence of 10% microspheres raises the yield of the IBP-360°C fraction by 10% with a total by-products (gas and coke) yield of only 4 wt. %. Structural-group composition analysis of resins and asphaltenes of bitumen cracking products indicates significant degradation of resin and asphaltene molecules in the presence of microspheres. The average molecular mass of asphaltenes decreases by 703 amu, the number of blocks in a molecule decreases from 4 to 3, and the number of naphthene rings decreases threefold, which leads to an increase in aromaticity factor, while the quantity of aliphatic fragments and the length of substituents diminish. The average asphaltene molecule becomes more compact and aromatic structural fragments dominate.

Description: In order to study the characteristics of the flow regime, we conducted experiments on filtration of pure water and water/oil through an artificial fractured – vuggy medium. We found that both Darcy and non-Darcy flow can occur in a fractured – vuggy medium. After rewriting the Forchheimer equation, we calculated the inertial coefficient for different fracture widths and vug diameters. Based on the experimental studies, we also propose a new method for determining the flow regime for twophase flow using fractal theory.

Description: Xylotrophic basidial fungi capable of accumulating lipids while growing on inedible plant materials are a promising source of feedstock for obtaining biodiesel. Thirty strains of xylotrophic basidial fungi were screened for the accumulation of lipids, and the content of fatty acids in nine strains chosen by screening was determined. It was shown that the Piptoporus betulines MT-30.04 and Russula puellaris MT-32.06 strains are characterized by maximum content of oleic acid in the lipids and are therefore most promising as lipid formers for biodiesel production.

Description: A sequence of possible reactions occurring during evolution of deep-lying fluids, components of which could be sources of biogenous oil substances, is studied within the confines of biogenetic concept of formation of oil. Oxidative condensation transformation of methane and its immediate homologs under the action of sulfur present in some fluids might have facilitated formation of various types of hydrocarbons and organosulfur compounds. The possibility of such transformations is supported by the stable direct correlations between sulfur concentration in oils, their density, viscosity, content of asphaltic-resinous components and heavy fractions, and the scale of oil deposits. The proportion of gas in the oil-gas systems decreases with increase of sulfur content. Metals, like V and Ni, in the deep-lying fluids affect the geochemical type of oil. Vanadium oils are heavier (V 〉 Ni), have high sulfur contents, and occur closer to the surface, while Ni oils are lighter (Ni 〈 V), have low sulfur contents, and occur in deeper strata. These characteristics apparently stem from the different nature of catalytic properties of the metals and the structures containing them. Transformations of the oil fluid with the involvement of heterocomponents thus affect the fractional and chemical composition of oil-gas systems.

Description: A mathematical model (numerical simulation) of gas-oil flow in a multi-cup downhole gas-oil separator is proposed. The model takes into account the Gibbs wave equation to obtain the pump plunger velocity and the population balance model (PBM) for describing bubble aggregation and breakage. The gas-oil flow field distribution and the bubble behavior in the multi-cup gas-oil separator were simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The numerical simulation results showed that the main role of gas-oil flow distribution in the process of oil separation from the separator cup wall is the viscous effect. Small bubbles in the center tube aggregate into large bubbles, and interaction of the bubbles along the flow and the fluid running down the cup wall forms a clockwise spiral, which accelerates separation of the gas and oil phases in the separator cup. During the upstroke, the oil volume being sucked out by the center tube through the small hole is larger than the oil volume in the separator cup, which causes entry of air into the center tube and failure of the separator cup.

Description: In the process of oil field development by fire flooding, some sections of the tail gas gathering pipelines may get frozen and blocked due to high content in the gas of moisture, methane, ethane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide. To solve this problem, investigations were conducted to determine the effect of tail gas components, flow rate, pipeline length, and surrounding temperature on the process of reduction of transmission capacity of the gas pipelines due to freezing and blocking. It was found that the methane content in the gas is mainly responsible for gas hydrate formation and wall freezing, which occur predominantly in the back parts of straight pipes and pipe elbows and junctions. According to calculations, 70% methanol concentration is the best hydrate inhibitor.

Description: A versatile biodiesel production process that allows simulation of a plant that can produce biodiesel by transesterification of vegetable oils of any composition to methyl esters is proposed. The validity of the simulation was verified by producing biodiesel and glycerin from different amounts of algal oil feedstocks. The versatile model can be applied to different types of oils by changing only the input parameters. It provides a series of advantages not only in terms of resource and time saving when building a real plant, but also when selecting the most suitable feedstocks for biodiesel production.

Description: The results of determination of thermal stability of mineral and partly synthetic motor oils are presented. The criterion of thermal stability is substantiated and the correlation between it and antiwear properties of the oils is determined. Direct photometric measurement method, which helps obtain an integral parameter of accumulation of all degradation products in the studied oil that can be determined from the luminous flux absorption coefficient, is chosen as the basic method of evaluation of thermal degradation processes. The essential feature of the method consists in comprehensive evaluation of thermal stability and antiwear properties of lube oils from the parameters, namely, the coefficient of luminous flux absorption, relative viscosity, vaporizability, and wear. Correlations of optical properties, viscosity, vaporizability, and antiwear properties of the lube oils with thermostating temperature are obtained, and based on them the limiting temperature of lube oil performing ability was established.

Description: In this paper, we present a model for calculating the open-hole extended-reach limit for an extendedreach well which takes into account such factors as annular pressure loss, equivalent density of formation fracture pressure, etc. Studies have shown that the proposed model is the most accurate model available. We also present results of an analysis of the effect of different drilling parameters on the extended-reach limit of the well. Calculations have shown that the extended-reach limit is proportional to the equivalent density of the formation fracture pressure and inversely proportional to the pump rate, the drilling fluid density, and the mechanical rate of penetration (ROP).

Description: The results of studies on the development of the flame atomic absorption method for determining the elemental composition of precipitates formed during use of petroleum products are reported. The feasibility of applying this method to determine the elemental composition of pollutants removed from the fuel and oil feed systems of the equipment and determination of the nature and causes of formation of these pollutants is demonstrated.

Description: We propose a mathematical model describing gas flow from a fractured shale reservoir into a horizontal well. Based on Langmuir adsorption theory and Darcy’s law, we have obtained a basic solution using a combination of a point source function, an integral of a Bessel’s function, and the Poisson summation formula. We plotted typical curves for the dimensionless pressure and its derivative on a log-log scale. We analyze the stages of gas flow from the shale formation to the horizontal well and the factors influencing it.

Description: It is shown that in the mineral transformer oil oxidation process the fluorescence spectrum of the oil shifts to the long-wave region. This phenomenon lies at the foundation of the method of determination of the degree of electroinsulating oil oxidation in real time. The oxidation state is determined by measuring the diagnostic parameter, i.e., the oxidation index that characterizes the magnitude of shift of the fluorescence spectrum of the oil upon its oxidation. The oxidation index is defined as the ratio of the fluorescence intensity measured in the longer-wave spectral range to the intensity measured in the shorter-wave spectral range. The results of measurement of the transformer oil oxidation degree by the fluorescence method vis-à-vis other measurement methods, such as titration and IR spectroscopy, are presented. The proposed method can be used to determine the increase in oil oxidation rate at the earlier stage. The device for implementing the developed method can be a portable one or can be installed in the oil-filled system of the equipment.

Description: The results of modeling of thermal cracking of oil sludge activated by electromagnetic radiation are reported. An experimental-statistical model of dependence of wide gas oil fraction yield on radiation frequency, electromagnetic radiation power, and oil sludge activation time is obtained to optimize the cracking process conditions.

Description: In order to study the reasons for borehole instability, we calculated the mud density window for horizontal wells in complex formations based on logging data. From the results of the mud density window calculation, we found that for mudstone shales it decreases as the inclination angle and the azimuth increase, while for coal it took on negative values. We found that collapse and expansion are conducive to maintaining borehole stability, while in coal seams a positive mud density window can be achieved only by collapse (a decrease in the borehole diameter). It was determined that we need to increase the mud density from 1.2 to 1.4 g/cm 3 and use drill pipes that are as small as possible for the longest possible period of time. In this case, the borehole trajectory should be determined according to the seam location and the mud density.

Description: The deterging effect and wetting capacity of some widely used commercial surfactants and demulsifiers are examined and studied from the standpoint of the oilfield treatment of crude oil. The deterging effect of surfactants of various structures is shown to be selective in washing off disperse particles of mechanical paraffin, resin, and asphaltene impurities from the surface. New methods are proposed for determining the deterging effect of surfactacts in oil-bearing disperse systems. The mechanism of breakdown of the structure of disperse particles surrounded by a hydrocarbon adsorption layer under the action of detergents is described. The studies identified a number of surfactants that have an intrinsically pronounced deterging effect.

Description: A method has been developed for determination of the thermooxidative stability of lubricating oils by substitution of single-stage extraction of mechanical impurities from oxidized oil in a Soxhlet apparatus for stages wherein the oxidized oil is held in a solvent, filtered, and additionally eluted of residue with solvent. The precision indexes of the proposed method meet specifications GOST 11063–77, GOST 23652–79, and GOST 6370–83.

Description: A correlation is established experimentally between the content of oxidation products determined by IR spectroscopy and the acid number of lubricating oils used in gas-pumping units. A new express method is proposed fro determining acid number.

Description: We have studied the melting points and the hexagonal—rhombic transition temperatures in the solid state of the crude oil paraffin P-1 (mixed Ozek-Suat oil) and its narrow fractions. We have identified for the first time a correlation between the phase transition temperatures for the narrow fractions and the corresponding temperatures for the predominant high-melting and low-melting n-alkanes in these fractions.

Description: Crude oil acids, isolated from high-acid crude oil, were decarboxylated in a continuous flow-through reactor in the presence of nanosized titanium dioxide. We studied the effect of the reaction temperature on the acid number of the product and the acid conversion. The product obtained, with low acidity and high calorific value and representing a mixture of naphthenic hydrocarbons, is proposed as a component of jet fuels.

Description: We use the Aspen HYSYS software to simulate the process of amine sweetening of natural gas with high acid gas content. We analyze the effect of the lean amine (absorbent) temperature on the acid gas content in the sweetened gas and saturated amine solution (the rich amine). We found that the optimal temperature for the regenerated amine solution (lean amine), at which the maximum sweetening of the gas is achieved with minimum amine circulation rate, is within the range 38°C-45°C.

Description: We describe a statistical method for determining the fracture parameters and the vertical and lateral distribution of these parameters. We examine the correlation between the fracture properties and the filtration characteristics: permeability and deliverability. The grid method is an accurate and efficient tool that makes it possible to describe the surface density of fractures in the core. The parameters determined from the core can be used to calibrate the results from interpretation of well logging data, in order to sufficiently accurately determine the nature of the change in the parameters across the entire wellbore. We have established that the permeability and deliverability of the deposits clearly depends on the fracture spacing and the fracture surface density within the Dabei block of the Kuqa depression.

Description: The potential content and properties of oil distillate fractions of heavy crude oil from the Ashal’chinskoe field are analyzed. The properties of the lubricants obtained from these fractions are studied. Theoretical possibility of use of this type of hydrocarbon feedstock for production of commercial motor oils and conserving lubricants is shown.

Description: We examine a new technology for shale gas recovery: high-temperature supercritical carbon dioxide flooding. We analyze the physical and chemical properties of supercritical carbon dioxide, the characteristics of shale gas reservoirs, the adsorption/desorption mechanism and the factors affecting it. We discuss the advantages of the proposed technology and the feasibility of its application in the industry.

Description: Solid components contained in aged GK-type transformer oil are studied employing scanning electron microscopy and X-ray energy-dispersion spectroscopy. The composition and properties of sulfur compounds are shown to change markedly in the oil-performance process, including conversion of non-corrosive compounds to corrosive ones.

Description: This article describes the development of the modern paradigm of chemmotology as a set of concepts, definitions, and terms and shows the importance of modern chemmotological terminology.

Description: Multilayer carbon nanotubes obtained by pyrolytic treatment and mechanical activation of amorphous carbon, synthesized from various plant materials, are distinguished by high hydrogen sorption capacity. We have studied the microstructure of the amorphous carbon and the nanotubes. We have found that the mechanical activation time and hydrogen saturation conditions affect the sorption capacity of the nanotubes.

Description: We have studied thermal pyrolysis of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) at 400°C, 450°C, and 500°C. We have studied the effect of temperature on the yield of solid, liquid, and gaseous pyrolysis products. The maximum yield (33.67%) of liquid product (bio-oil) is obtained at 500°C. The bio-oil contains oxygen-containing compounds with hydroxyl and carboxyl groups: phenol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, 2-methoxyphenol, 2-methylphenol, 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol, etc.

Description: Results are reported from laboratory studies of the influence of nitrogen-containing additives on the friction and wear of metallic pairs in diesel fuel. The elemental composition, structure, and thickness of protective films formed on friction surfaces due to the wear of moving pairs in various media are analyzed by X-ray photoelectron tomography. It is shown that the protective film is 1.5 times thicker if the diesel fuel contains a nitrogen-bearing additive rather than no additives.

Description: Based on a review of recent foreign publications, we examine the typical features in simulation modeling of in-situ combustion of high-viscosity crude oils and natural bitumens. We pay special attention to phase and kinetics models, and also examine the differences between combustion of heavy and light oils. We formulate approaches and describe important aspects on which we need to focus when comparing models.

Description: This paper describes using the familiar MT-2 platform to build an instrument capable of supporting dynamic observations and recording of the kinetics of physicochemical processes during cryoscopic osmometry of crude oil media and refined petroleum products in automatic mode. Modifications of the MT-2 design generally include introduction of a laser source, a videographic speckle recording system, a digitizing board for the speckle recording signal, a stepper motor control module and redesigned micromechanics controllable by it, which via signals supplied by the computer (the nature of which is controlled by specially written software) alters the movement of the analytical head. As a result of the modification, the MT-2 with digital speckle recording, laser module, and microcamera allows us: to determine the transition to irreversible aggregation of the asphaltenes, characterized by their deposition on the walls of the measuring bath (after desorption of the resins); to do realtime classification of crude oil by speckle morphometry methods; to observe and identify the emulsion properties of the crude oil, including formation of “carpenter’s level” bubble inclusions and coacervate droplets; to carry out a rheological falling-drop experiment with thermographic monitoring; to make rheogoniometric observations while rotating the measuring instrument or thin cuvet; to observe wavy perturbations on the surface of the medium while the drop is falling, with delayed relaxation (dissipation) due to viscoelastic properties.

Description: A study has been made of 13 industrial fractionating towers having a variety of plate contact devices (S-valve, straight-through valve, rectangular-cap, and Glitch valve devices) and 11 industrial fractionating towers having a variety of cross-flow packing contact devices. It is demonstrated that the efficiency of contact devices of various designs is less in the stripping sections of the fractionating towers than in the concentrating sections. Analysis of the mechanisms of diffusion of fractionated components in vapor and liquid phases in contact devices shows that the diffusion coefficient in the vapor phase decreases from the top to the bottom of the tower as the concentration of high-boiling components increases. This reduces mass transfer from one phase to another in the contact device in the stripping section of the tower and, as a result, reduces the efficiency of the contact device in this section of the tower. It is shown that elevation of pressure in the tower and increased temperature gradient across the tower height cause further decline of the contact device efficiency in the stripping section of the tower.

Description: 〈p〉Modern ideas about the aging process of road binders and the principles of restoring their properties and structure are given. Technology of production of standard restored road binders (bitumen and polymer modified bituminous materials) using devulcanized rubber crumb (RC) obtained by crushing spent tires, elemental sulfur, oil dispersing agents (asphalt from deasphalting tar and heavy gas oil catalytic cracking) and polymer-thermoplastic elastomer is proposed. In addition, this technology provides the skillful use of elemental sulfur, waste asphalt from the process of deasphalting tars, and straight-run tar that is in surplus at many refineries. The physical and chemical properties of the restored road binders were evaluated for compliance with the Russian and American standards.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉A zeolite-containing diesel-fuel dearomatization catalyst was prepared using synthesized tungsten-doped zirconia 〈span〉 〈span〉\( {\mathrm{WO}}_4^{2-} \)〈/span〉 〈/span〉/ZrO〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 and an Ni—Mo complex. The catalyst was tested for diesel fuel dearomatization at 4.5 MPa, feedstock input volume flow rate 1.5 h〈sup〉-1〈/sup〉, H〈sub〉2〈/sub〉/feedstock volume ratio 1000 nm〈sup〉3〈/sup〉/m〈sup〉3〈/sup〉, and temperature range 270-330°C. The highest conversion (78.8%) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and greatest cetane number were attained at 290°C. Also, the cloud and pour points of the diesel fuel decreased by 23-25°C because of cracking at 310-330°C and extensive isomerization at 290°C. This was confirmed by the yields of target diesel fraction of 69.8-72.9 and 89.2 wt. %, respectively.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae biomass at various temperatures was studied. The products were analyzed by thermogravimetry, elemental analysis, and gas-chromatography—mass-spectromeny. It was concluded that the temperature affected the product yield and composition. The quantitative contents of the major components in the gasoline fraction of the produced bio-oil were determined. The main components in the gasoline fraction were aromatic hydrocarbons, alkanes, and cycloalkanes. The hydrothermal processing products also contained significant quantities of phenols, organic sulfides, and nitrogenous organic compounds that prevented their direct use as fuel components.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Activities of HCeY vacuum gas-oil cracking catalysts based on the H-form of Fe-modified kaolinites from Kazakhstan deposits with and without zeolites are reported. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were determined. The main cracking product of vacuum gas oil on Fe-modified H-kaolinites without zeolites was light gas oil, the yields of which was 65.3-67.3%. Adding zeolite increased the gasoline yield up to 22% with rather high feedstock conversion (up to 90.3%).〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Gasification of mixtures of biomass (sunflower seed shells, corn cobs) and heavy oil residues (tar) with added water and preliminary mechanochemical activation of the feedstock is investigated. The influence of the gasification conditions on the yield and composition of the obtained syngas is studied.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Due to the complexity of fluid composition and the dynamic characteristics of a gas reservoir with an underlying aquifer and an oil rim, estimating the storage capacity of such a reservoir is a complex problem. In this work, the method of numerical simulation is used to calculate the dynamic characteristics of such reservoirs. The obtained data on the distribution of the three phases in the reservoir show the expansion of the gas cap and the penetration of the underlying water into the oil rim, resulting in a three-phase transition zone which increases seepage resistance. The capacity of the reservoir is calculated by the method of numerical simulation taking into account the seepage resistance of the three phases, and the material balance method without taking into account the seepage resistance. The results of calculations show that the storage capacity calculated by the first method is 74% of the value calculated by the second method. Thus, we can conclude that the three-phase transition zone is the main parameter affecting the calculated reservoir capacity, and the effect of the transition zone cannot be neglected when estimating the storage capacity of the reservoir.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Results are given for a study on the optimization of the composition of crude oil consisting of petroleum, fuel oil, and gas condensate to improve atmospheric distillation at an installation of the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat Atmospheric and Vacuum Distillation Company. The results of a determination of the size of dispersed phase particles and the stability factor were used to predict the effect of the gas condensate in the crude oil on the major physicochemical properties and yield of light petroleum products. An active state of the dispersed system in the mixed crude oil was found at 40 wt.%. Atmospheric distillation of the activated crude oil permits an increase in the yield of light petroleum products by 28 wt. %.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉During more than 100 years of oil development, cementing technologies have been constantly improved. Depending on the well conditions, the technologies vary in number of stages, cementing mixture composition, and methods to provide leakage-proof and gas-tight cementing, etc. In this paper the authors analyzed the creep law application and its models for the salt-gypsum layer and performed the comparative adaptability evaluation of cementing methods in the salt-gypsum layer.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉The first author’s name is incorrect. It should read〈/p〉 〈p〉A. S. Stoporev.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉The acknowledgement is missing. It reads〈/p〉 〈p〉The study was financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (unique project identifier RFMEFI57717X0252).〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉The deformation—strength (strength and plasticity) and dilatometric properties (contraction or volume shrinkage) of binary composites of food paraffin P-1 and the polymers low-pressure polyethylene, polyethylene waxes, atactic polypropylene, and copolymers of ethylene and vinylacetate are investigated. The structural and mechanical properties of the polymer—paraffin composites are plotted as functions of composition. The dependences of these properties on the content of modifying component in the P-1 composites are compared.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉In this paper a new system is proposed for the storage and transportation of gas in the hydrate form (for the case of methane hydrate). The use of solid particles (Aerosil ® R202) is most effective as promoters of hydrate formation for the intended purposes. The ratio of water to transformer oil in the initial systems was constant (1:1 by weight); the content of Aerosil® R202 in “dry water” was 5 wt. %. From the obtained results it follows that the presence of “dry water” in the system accelerates the formation of the hydrate, while the transformer oil provides a self-preservation effect and thereby slow decomposition of the hydrate phase. The proportion of methane hydrate subjected to self-preservation in the presence of transformer oil is 80 times higher than for the hydrate obtained from “dry water” without any additives. The obtained data can be used in the development of hydrate methods of gas storage and transportation.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉A quick inexpensive method for investigating the tendency of diesel fuels to form high-temperature deposits in the engine cylinder zone is proposed. The method can be used to model the dynamics of the deposit formation process that depends on the factors governing this process and to establish the quantitative characteristics of the influence of composition and conditions of use of fuels on deposit formation.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉In this paper, we propose a theoretically derived improved model for characterizing the fractal features of coalbed methane reservoirs, and we compare with previously published models for conventional reservoirs. The model was verified by mercury intrusion porosimetry. The results have shown that there is no linear relationship between the normalized wetting phase saturation, wetting phase saturation, or mercury saturation vs. the capillary pressure on a log-log plot. Therefore existing models are inapplicable for a high-rank CBM formation, which is characterized by low permeability and porosity. The improved model lets us calculate the multi-interval fractal features characterizing the physical properties of the formation. We show that higher fractal dimensions mean poorer physical properties of the formation.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉We have determined the primary jet fuel performance properties that have the greatest impact on how effectively they can be used in diesel engines, requiring improvement with the help of functional additives. We have studied the effect of a cetane improver additive based on 2-ethylhexyl nitrate and an antiwear additive based on higher carboxylic acids on the performance properties of jet fuels when they are used in diesel engines, and we have optimized their composition. We present the results of a study of the proposed fuel compositions based on jet fuel and functional additives, using laboratory and qualification methods and indicator properties for the D-245.125 engine cycle.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉In this study, for predicting situations that may occur when using oxy-coal combustion technology in a cement rotary kiln, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodology was used to investigate the temperature distribution, burnout rates of coal, flame shape and release of NO 〈sub〉x〈/sub〉 in conditions of oxy-coal combustion with different O〈sub〉2〈/sub〉/N〈sub〉2〈/sub〉 volume ratios ranging between 21% and 31% in the primary air in the sintering zone of a rotary kiln. Simulations were performed using ANSYS-CFX, a commercial CFD package. The results revealed a significant temperature increase in the rotary kiln, and the average temperature increase value was verified experimentally. Coal particles combust more rapidly near the burner, and the final degree of burnout increases simultaneously. Increased combustion efficiency reduces fuel consumption. However, shifting the ignition point toward the burner may reduce the service time of the burner, and the shortening of the flame kernel may lead to a decrease in the calcination time of cement. The content of oxygen in the kiln rises, but the change is slight and can be ignored for cement clinker formation. The amount of NO 〈sub〉〈em〉x〈/em〉〈/sub〉, produced increases with increasing oxygen content in the primary air. The results of this study can be used to select the optimal sintering parameters for oxy-coal combustion in industrial production of cement.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉The dependence of the colloidal stability, effective viscosity, penetration, and yield stress of low-temperature polymeric greases on the composition and characteristics of the dispersion medium was investigated. Various types of low-viscosity oil with known fractional and group composition were used as base oils. The effect of the concentration of the two-component thickener of high- or low-molecular polypropylene and the proportions of its components on the main physicochemical characteristics of the polymer greases was determined. The dependence of the structure and properties of the polymer greases on the concentration of lithium stearate was established.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉In this study, non-fluorescent cationic extreme pressure lubricant JDLUB-1 was prepared to improve the lubricity for extended reach well drilling. The lubricant was mainly composed of synthetic base oil, oil-soluble and spherical nano-silica, sulfur-phosphorus-molybdenum anti-friction and anti-extreme pressure additives. The mixture was emulsified with primary emulsifier cycloalkane group condensed fatty amines and a fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether co-emulsifier. The fluorescence level did not exceed 4, satisfying the standard requirements. The properties including extreme pressure lubrication, temperature resistance and compatibility with conventional drilling fluid additives were evaluated. The results indicated that the extreme pressure lubricity coefficient could reach 0.0283 after addition of JDLUB-1. Meanwhile, the product was stable at high temperature of 130 °C, and compatible with common additives. The lubricity mechanism of JDLUB-1 was investigated by measuring the zeta potential, particle size distribution, adsorption, and anti-wear evaluation at extreme pressure. The results indicated that the positively charged lubricant oil droplets could be actively adsorbed onto the surface of N80 steel casing coupon. An adsorption film composed of oil soluble and spherical nano-silica and sulfur-phosphorus-molybdenum compounds was formed with a low melting point and low shear strength. During friction, the formation of molybdenum disulfide film leads to repair of the metal surface and formation of a stable sliding friction between the drill string and the wellbore with a low friction coefficient. The JDLUB-1 lubricant was successfully applied in several high-angle deviated wells and extended reach wells in Jidong oilfield (China). The results demonstrated that JDLUB-1 could effectively reduce torque and drag and show potential field application in the future〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉A new method for preventing gas breakthroughs to producing well bottom during oil recovery from oil-gas condensate deposits, which enhances the efficiency of gas recovery technologies, is proposed. The method consists in use of hydrophobic gas shutting compositions based on furnace (residual fuel) oil. Filtration studies (physical modeling) of the gas shutting process were conducted for the proposed compositions. The gas breakthrough was simulated using permeable bulk porous media or permeable cores of productive bed of the reservoir.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Results are presented for a study on the development of methods to remove gum, sulfur, and other impurities from diesel fuels at the site of use. The removal of dissolved impurities in diesel fuel is possible by a physicochemical method, having first enlarged these impurities using coagulants. The introduction of carbamide dissolved in water into the fuel permits a reduction in the content of gum and sulfur and an increase in the anti-wear properties of diesel fuel. The use of monoethanolamine in a mixture with isopropyl alcohol in the following step of fuel treatment increases the efficiency of the impurity removal process and further reduces the fuel sulfur and gum impurity indices.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉We propose a method for fast three-dimensional reconstruction of oil refinery buildings and facilities using photography with the help of an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) and a depth sensor for depth image classification. We propose two workflows for object reconstruction for different applications. To use the depth sensors, we have developed a method combining the Structure from Motion (SfM) method for determining the structure of an object from imaging of motion in passive vision mode and the Structural Light (LS) method or Time-of-Flight (ToF) method in active (illuminated) vision mode. With low costs, the SfM method combined with a depth sensor let us obtain images large-scale objects at high speed, where the number of calculations is significantly reduced, the efficiency of 3D reconstruction is improved, and the uncertainty in determining the object parameters is not more than a few centimeters.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Group and elemental compositions and structures of hydrocarbon dispersions in super-viscous oil resulting from steam and heat exposure at 140-190°C and 3-6 atm in the presence of hexane and benzene are established using simplified models of terrigenous and carbonate reservoirs. A relationship between the composition and structure of the oil dispersions after steam-heat action and a temperature dependence of viscosity are established. Solvate shells of increased thickness around complex structural unit nuclei and a greater proportion of dispersion medium are distinctive features of the low-viscosity displaced oil. Studies show that the dispersion medium impacts greatly the formation and properties of the oil dispersion. Benzene in the displacing agent decreases the degree of dispersion of the system and the viscosity of the displaced oil.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉There is an error in the article metadata on SpringerLink, the first author's name is incorrect. It should read P. A. Gushchin.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉A new safety-valve construction was developed and tested by studying combined dynamic and static loads between powered supports and surrounding rocks. The gas—air mixture explosion conditions were modeled to test the dynamic load. Explosion properties of the gas-air mixtures (including maximum explosion pressure, maximum rise rate of explosion pressure, explosion rime, deflagration index) were investigated experimentally at room temperature in a cylindrical chamber with top-center ignition. The results showed that the maximum explosion pressure, maximum rate of pressure rise, and deflagration index were linearly correlated to the initial pressure. On the other hand, the explosion time depended mainly on the ratio of gases and only in a limited range on the initial pressure. The experimentally measured explosion properties of LPG—air mixtures could be used in practice to study safe operation of safety valves.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉When studying oil reservoirs, we have the problem of identification of the preferred seepage channel. Conventional methods evaluate the influence of individual factors. The proposed Deng's relational analysis method lets us evaluate the influence of several parameters, their relative weight and correlation. In this paper, we present the basic principles for application of Deng's relational analysis as applied to liquid and gas flow processes. We have calculated the correlation degree and the weighting factors for different geological parameters, production parameters, and seepage directions, and have proposed a mathematical model for identifying the preferred seepage channel and we verify the model using a type A water drive curve.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉The physical and chemical properties of polymer-bitumen binders obtained by compounding highly oxidized bitumen and modified heavy resid polymers are listed. It is shown that heavy resids of various nature can be used as plasticizers of highly oxidized bitumen structure and be modified by thermoelastoplastics to obtain polymer-bitumen binders meeting standard requirements. The quality of polymer-bitumen binder samples is assessed by integrated quality assessment method. It is demonstrated that this method can be used to select the composition offinished products having the best values of physical and chemical parameters.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Iron oxide (magnetite) particles are synthesized. Their effects on the transformation of high-molecular-mass components of Ashal'cha deposit heavy oil after simulating steam-heat action are studied. The contents of resinous asphaltenes are found to decrease if a catalyst is present in the oil. The viscosity decreases during hydrothermal catalytic action. Starting catalyst of mixed Fe(II, III) oxides and catalyst recovered from the oil were analyzed using x-ray structure analyses. Catalyst particle sizes were established using scanning electron microscopy.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉The gasification behavior of mixtures of oil residues (fuel oils) and vegetable raw materials (VRMs) (agro-industrial wastes, sunflower seed shells, corn cobs) is investigated. The effects of batch and continuous processes on the product yield and composition are studied. Preliminary mechanical activation of composite feedstock and selection of the optimal ratio of VRM—oil—water mixture components and oxygen content in the blast air were found experimentally to allow high feedstock conversion and produce syngas suitable for synthesis of organic compounds.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉A sturdy was carried out on nanofibrillar cellulose from unbleached wood pulp using sulfuric acid and ammonium persulfate for acid-oxidative treatment. The diameter of the fibers of the resultant nanofibrillar cellulose is described by a log normal distribution with maximum at about 11 nm. Nanofibrillar cellulose may be used to modify the surface of paper or cardboard leading to greater mechanical strength and improved barrier properties relative to gas permeability as well as a component of industrial adsorbents.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Annular pressure buildup (APB) is generated by thermal expansion of trapped fluids in the closed space of the casing string and threatens the structural safety of the casing string. In the present study a model for estimating deformation of the casing string in cemented and uncemented sections of a pipe based on the theory of elastic deformation is constructed. Calculation of a model of pressure buildup is performed by the method of multistring system analysis. The effect of deformation on pressure buildup is studied and a software application based on the technique of finite elements is used to estimate the deformation of the casing string. The investigations demonstrated that APB calculated with the inclusion of the cemented sections is less than where these sections are not taken into account. Casing deformation affects sections with different levels of the top of cement (IOC) in different ways. For the cemented sections the influence of deformation on pressure buildup is expressed more strongly. Computer verification of the model shows that the range of divergence of pressure buildup does not exceed 3%. Studies of the deformation of the casing string are of practical use in the design of casing strings and in the operation of deep-water wells.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉High-energy-density (HED) fuels are widely used in aerospace engines bit suffer front slow trance and incomplete combustion. A proposed solution to this problem is dissolution of a flammable small-molecule additive, a g., acetylene, in the fuel. The solubility of acetylene in HED fuels JP-10 and QC at 298.15 K and pressure from 0 to 200 kPa was studied. The molar concentration of acetylene in JP-10 and QC fuels or a pressure of 100 kPa reached 0.60 and 0.75%, respectively. Studies of the dissolution of acetylene in the presence of Et〈sub〉3〈/sub〉N and scrambled cages (1, 2, and 5 mass%) showed that such additives could increase significantly the solubility of acetylene in the fuel. The research results are of practical interest for improving the efficiency of HED fuels.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉The results of experimental investigations on improving the demulsifying characteristics of inhibited turbine oils are presented. It was established that the Neftenol-BS demulsifier reduces the effectiveness of the corrosion inhibitor Neftekhimeko-1 by less than 2% whereas the demulsifying characteristics of inhibited oil are improved by 9.5 times. It was shown that an additive composition containing corrosion inhibitor Neftekhimeko-1 and alkenylsuccinic aldehyde in a ratio of 85:15 by weight is highly effective. Inhibited turbine oil containing such a composition at a concentration of 0.1 wt % had protective and demulsifying characteristics that meet the requirements in the operation of gas compressor units in media containing hydrogen sulfide.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉In this paper, fractal characteristics of sandstone in the Chang 7 section of the Triassic Yanchang Formation of the Dingbian oilfield, Ordos Basin, China were analyzed by high pressure mercury intrusion porosimetry and the fractal model. The influence offractal parameters on rock permeability is discussed. Results show that fractal dimensions (〈em〉D〈/em〉〈sub〉〈em〉f〈/em〉〈/sub〉) of sandstone samples range within 2.759-2.987, with an average of 2.890, and the mean capillary tortuosity fractal dimension (〈em〉D〈/em〉〈sub〉〈em〉T〈/em〉〈/sub〉) ranges within 1.194-1.553, with an average of 1.391; 〈em〉D〈/em〉〈sub〉〈em〉f〈/em〉〈/sub〉 is larger than 〈em〉D〈/em〉〈sub〉〈em〉r〈/em〉〈/sub〉 There is a strong negative correlation between rock permeability and 〈em〉D〈/em〉〈sub〉〈em〉f〈/em〉〈/sub〉 or 〈em〉D〈/em〉〈sub〉〈em〉r〈/em〉〈/sub〉 Both 〈em〉D〈/em〉〈sub〉〈em〉f〈/em〉〈/sub〉 and 〈em〉D〈/em〉〈sub〉〈em〉T〈/em〉〈/sub〉 decrease with decreasing porosity of sandstone samples, indicating that connectivity between rock sample pores becomes poor and capillary tortuosity increases. The seepage path in low-permeability (tight) sandstone is much longer than in moderate-permeability sandstone, which is an important reason for the low permeability of the tight sandstone oil reservoir Meanwhile, the fractal model is an effective predictor of the permeability of tight sandstone oil reservoirs.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉A study was carried out on the antimicrobial activity of haloethers in M8 motor oil, which was determined by serial consecutive dilutions in sterile distilled water relative to gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli), and fungi (Candida albicans). Meat peptone agar (MPA) with pH = 7.2 was used as the nutrient medium for the bacteria, while Sabouraud medium was used for the fungi. These compounds display bactericidal and weak fungicidal activity in M-8 motor oil and stop the growth of the microorganisms. These samples did not have a negative effect on the physicochemical indices of the motor oil and may be used as biocidal additives.〈/p〉

Description: 〈p〉Pulsed neutron logging is one of the key techniques for monitoring residual oil saturation in the late stages of oilfield exploration. Dual mode pulsed neutron spectral logging is discussed, which can be used to obtain time spectra and energy spectra of inelastic scattering of gamma radiation during a borehole measurement. With optimized pulse radiation and measurement timing, the tool simultaneously measures Σ and C/O to calculate the residual oil saturation. In this paper, based on Monte Carlo numerical simulation, a mathematical model is proposed of the dependence of temporal and energy spectra of gamma radiation on reservoir parameters, and the characteristics of C/O and capture cross-section are calculated. An interpretation model is proposed that can be used to calculate oil saturation from the C/O-Σ cross-plots. Comparative analysis and field tests showed that dual mode PSL spectra make it possible to determinate residual oil saturation in an unknown porosity formation with increased accuracy, and have technological advantages over the single C/O energy spectrum and neutron lifetime logging.〈/p〉

Description: A study was carried out on combined inhibition by a solution containing 0.5% polymer kinetic inhibitor (KI) + 10.0% methanol as a thermodynamic inhibitor (TI) in the formation of methane hydrate (Class I) and the hydrate of 95.66 mol. % CH 4 + 4.34 mol.% C 3 H 8 (methanepropane mixture) (Class II). This combined inhibition was studied by an isothermal method and a method entailing cooling at a constant rate using a GHA350 autoclave. Methane was shown to have an adverse effect on the inhibiting properties of the polymer KI both relative to formation of methane hydrate and hydrates of C 1 – C 3 hydrocarbons. The loss of inhibition by the polymer KI in the presence of methanol is expressed as the decrease in the extent of supercooling attainable in the system without adsorption of the hydrate-forming gas (1.5 – 2.5°C in comparison with the system without TI). The induction time is shown to depend on the extent of supercooling in the system during inhibition of formation of the Class I and Class II hydrates by the solution containing 0.5% KI + 10.0% TI.

Description: The distinctive properties of products of hydrothermal transformations of organic matter of bituminous rocks from Upper Devonian Domanik carbonate-argillaceous deposits of the Romashkino field, which were formed due to generation of bituminous components present in the rock in free state as well as of hydrocarbons and high-molecular heteroatomic compounds in the insoluble kerogen degradation process, are determined. It is shown that, among the n-alkanes, homologs with even number of carbon atoms dominate in the kerogen degradation products and that the asphaltenes contain two solid disperse phases differing in aromaticity, heteroatom, microelement and vanadium porphyry complex contents, free radical concentration, and solubility in organic solvents. The sequence of leaching out of hydrocarbons, heteroatomic compounds, resins, and asphaltenes from the rock by vapor-gas mixture is studied. The migration and adsorption capacity of n-alkanes with even and odd numbers of carbon atoms is shown to be diverse. Changes in the microstructure of Domanik rocks upon hydrothermal transformations are studied.

Description: The physicochemical properties of substances taking part in processes of diesel fuel cleaning with ammonia water and washing with water are studied. It is shown that ammonia water containing ~2 wt. % of petroleum acids should be used as the reagent. For steady operation of the plate column, the optimal rates of fuel discharge through the plate holes are found to be 0.15 m/sec for cleaning and 0.30 m/sec for washing of the fuel. In this case, the disperse phase layer heights under the plate are 12-16 mm and 75-85 mm, respectively.

Description: The results of study of the structure and properties of high-temperature oleogreases containing thickener components that can be derived from renewable natural materials are presented. The constitution of the primary structures of the oleogreases prepared by using calcium soaps of fatty acids of poultry fat and palm oil as the organic component of the thickener is established. It is proved that the distinctive properties of the oleogreases are ensured by the thickener system based on a dispersion of calcium carbonate and a natural surfactant. In bulk-mechanical, antioxidative, tribological, and protective properties, the obtained oleogreases are not inferior to commercial superalkaline sulfonate lubricant.

Description: At present, most oilfields are developed by applying water-flooding technology. However, this technology is often accompanied by inorganic scale deposition on water- and oil-pipe and equipment walls due to the incompatibility between the injection fluid and formation water and for other reasons. Barium and strontium sulfates are highly resistant to the acids that are generally used as scale dissolvers. In this work, a new chelating-agent-based alkaline barium- and strontium-sulfate scale dissolver named SA-209 has been developed. Many of its important parameters such as salt concentration, reaction time, pH value, temperature, etc. that affect de-scaling efficiency are evaluated by experiments and analysis. This dissolver has a high de-scaling rate and low equipment and pipe corrosion, is environment-friendly, and so would have a promising application in oilfields.

Description: Sulfurreducing La/MCM–41/γ–Al 2 O 3 additives to a commercial zeolitecontaining cracking catalyst derived from MCM–41/γ–Al 2 O 3 support with different ratios of the MCM–41 and γ–Al 2 O 3 components were evaluated. Vacuum gas oil cracking at 500°C in the presence of these additives (10 wt. % additive in the catalyst) reduces sulfur in the liquid products by 20–31%.

Description: The process of synthesis of 1 st -, 2 nd - and 3 rd -generation dendritic polyamidoamines (PAMAM), using ammonia and ethylenediamine, is described. It is shown that the oil drops disintegration rate constant and the degree of breakdown of a stable oil–water emulsion increase with each subsequent generation of the dendrimer and with its increasing concentration. The maximally attained degree of separation of water containing 68 mg/L of oil was 84.6% with the addition of 20 mg/L of 3rd-generation PAMAM. The demulsification mechanism is shown to be associated with the spherical shape of the dendritic PAMAM macromolecules and the presence of a large number of polar amino functional groups on the surface of these spheres.

Description: The results of studies aimed at developing E30 bioethanol fuel composition using heavy low-octane hydrocracking gasoline as the basic component are reported. The dependencies of knock resistance, saturated vapor pressure, and fractional composition on bioethanol concentration in a mixture with heavy hydrocracking gasoline are shown. The maximally permissible concentrations of additional components (light hydrocracking gasoline, toluene, and reforming gasoline) in the fuel are indicated. The results of tests of experimental specimens in compliance with OAO VNII NP (OJSC All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Oil Refining) technical specifications and calculation of economic feasibility of production and use of E30 bioethanol fuel are presented.

Description: Correlations have been found between some physicochemical properties of diesel fractions and color coordinates in the sRGB color space profile, permitting the rapid determination of relative density, flash point, and initial boiling point of the diesel fractions from photoimages. The suitability of this method was shown by statisticalanalysis. This method can find application for prompt monitoring of the quality of diesel fractions during refinery operations.

Description: Changes in compost components produced over different composting periods and with addition of 0, 5, 10, and 15% humic acids (HA) were analyzed by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in order to investigate the transformation mechanism of green (plant) waste into compost. The results indicated that HA addition can not only accelerate the composting process but also improve the compost quality by increasing its maturity. HA addition does not change the functional groups but does change their number and the structure of the materials. Addition of 10% HA was found to have the most beneficial effects on the composting process and on the resulting compost.

Description: Organic-rich Lower Paleozoic Qiongzhusi, Wufneg, and Longmaxi formations in South Sichuan and North Yunnan areas are the main gas prospecting strata in China. XRD analysis is used to determine the mineral composition and brittleness indexes of three shale suites in these areas. These parameters are important for evaluating shale gas resources, analyzing reservoir-forming mechanisms, and planning prospecting. The investigation results indicate that the three shale suites have a mean quartz content of more than 27% and a mean clay mineral content of less than 37.27%. Their sedimentary environment is euxinic. They passed through a telodiagenetic phase. The mean relative brittleness index of the samples from Qiongzhusi, Wufneg, and Longmaxi formations are 69.54, 67.33, and 60.44%, respectively. Such high relative brittleness indexes imply that the studied shale suites have good fracturability.

Description: Some possible reactions of cyclohexyl phenyl sulfide with water are examined. Cyclohexyl phenyl sulfide was chosen as a model compound of heavy oils. Quantumchemical calculations of the difference in the energy of the products and reagents and the energy barrier of the reactions are performed and the temperature dependence of the change in Gibbs energy free energy is determined. It is shown that the data obtained using the density functional theory agree with the experimental data and could be used for more detailed study of the mechanisms of aquathermolysis reactions, including catalytic effects.

Description: The suitability of catalytic supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) technology for oily wastewater treatment is investigated. The effect of temperature, reaction time, oxygen excess, etc. on the extent of water purification is evaluated. The use of Cu 2+ , Mn 2+ , and Co 2+ salts as catalysts accelerates the reaction and ensures a satisfactory level of water purification at temperatures as low as 380°C. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) decreases by more than 90% in the presence of Cu 2+ . Mn 2+ and Co 2+ are also fairly effective wastewater treatment catalysts. On the whole, CSWO is a highly effective process for removing organic compounds from oil wastewaters.

Description: A mathematical model is proposed for polymer solution flow in dead-end pores, which was studied using micro-seepage of polymer solutions as an example. The mathematical model, including a continuity equation, a momentum conservation equation, and an equation of state, was solved by the finite difference method. The stream function and velocity contours were determined. The micro sweep efficiency when flooding the formation was calculated based on the velocity contour. The influence of elasticity, flow velocity, and viscosity of the polymer solution on the micro sweep efficiency was evaluated. It is demonstrated that the viscosity and the injection rate have a lesser effect on micro sweep efficiency than the elasticity of the polymer solution.