Abstract:
Methods to optimize solvent use in solvent-dominated processes for recovery of hydrocarbons are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, disclosed methods include injecting a solvent composition into a reservoir at a pressure above a liquid/vapor phase change of the solvent composition; injecting a chaser into the reservoir at a pressure above the liquid/vapor phase change of the solvent composition; allowing the solvent composition to mix with hydrocarbons in the reservoir and at least partially dissolve into the hydrocarbons to produce a solvent/hydrocarbon mixture; reducing the pressure in the reservoir below the liquid/vapor phase change pressure of the solvent composition thereby flowing at least a fraction of the solvent/hydrocarbon mixture from the reservoir; and repeating these steps as required.
Abstract:
An internal combustion engine operates in a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode. A method for controlling the internal combustion engine in response to a fast transient event from a low-load state to a high-load state includes operating the engine with a negative valve overlap between an intake valve and an exhaust valve, and determining a preferred combustion phasing responsive to the high-load state. A preferred EGR mass and a preferred intake valve timing corresponding to the preferred combustion phasing are determined. A first intake valve timing is determined in response to a difference between the preferred EGR mass and an actual EGR mass. The intake valve timing is controlled in response to a difference between the preferred intake valve timing and the first intake valve timing.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for controlling in situ resistive heating elements may be utilized to enhance hydrocarbon production within a subterranean formation. An in situ resistive heating element may be controlled by heating a controlled region associated with the in situ resistive heating element, injecting a control gas into the controlled region, and adjusting the electrical conductivity of the controlled region with the control gas. The controlled region may be located such that the heating and injecting may change the shape of the in situ resistive heating element and/or guide the in situ resistive heating element towards subterranean regions of potentially higher productivity and/or of higher organic matter.
Abstract:
Systems and methods of detecting an intersection between a wellbore and a subterranean structure that includes a marker material. The systems and methods include drilling the wellbore and determining that the wellbore has intersected a portion of the subterranean structure that includes the marker material by detecting the marker material. The systems and methods also may include distributing the marker material within the subterranean structure, aligning the marker material within the subterranean structure, determining one or more characteristics of the marker material, ceasing the drilling, repeating the method, and/or producing a hydrocarbon from the subterranean structure. The systems and methods further may include forming an electrical connection between an electric current source and a granular resistive heater that forms a portion of the subterranean structure, forming the granular resistive heater, and/or forming the subterranean structure.
Abstract:
A multi-cylinder spark-ignition direct-injection internal combustion engine is re-fired subsequent to a fuel cutoff event wherein fuel to all cylinders is cutoff. Re-firing the engine includes selectively firing individual cylinders during re-firing engine cycles exclusively at a predetermined fixed fuel mass until all cylinders have been fired at least once, whereafter subsequent firing of individual cylinders is not limited to the predetermined fixed fuel mass.
Abstract:
An electronic device includes an antenna, an RF circuit, and a matching circuit. The matching circuit is configured to provide variable impedance between the antenna and the RF circuit, wherein the matching circuit includes a first element having a first terminal and a second terminal, and wherein the first terminal is coupled to the antenna; a second element having a third terminal connected to the second terminal of the first element and a fourth terminal coupled to the RF circuit; a first tuning cell connected to the second terminal of the first element and the third terminal of the second element, and comprising a first tuning element, a second tuning element and a first control element, wherein the first control element determines whether to make a first node connected between the first and second tuning elements couple to a voltage level.
Abstract:
An internal combustion engine is selectably operable in one of homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode with low lift intake and exhaust valve profiles and spark ignition (SI) mode with high lift intake and exhaust valve profiles. Transition from a current combustion mode to a desired combustion mode includes phase adjusting the one of the intake and exhaust valves exhibiting a greater effect upon an effective cylinder volume for a given phase adjustment in the desired combustion mode based upon a desired phasing for the desired combustion mode prior to lift adjusting the one of the intake and exhaust valves and adjusting the other of the intake and exhaust valves.
Abstract:
An internal combustion engine operates in a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode. A method for controlling the internal combustion engine in response to a fast transient event from a low-load state to a high-load state includes operating the engine with a negative valve overlap between an intake valve and an exhaust valve, and determining a preferred combustion phasing responsive to the high-load state. A preferred EGR mass and a preferred intake valve timing corresponding to the preferred combustion phasing are determined A first intake valve timing is determined in response to a difference between the preferred EGR mass and an actual EGR mass. The intake valve timing is controlled in response to a difference between the preferred intake valve timing and the first intake valve timing.
Abstract:
A locking assembly for a door having an outer side, an inner side and a sidewall and has an exterior assembly, a cylinder and an interior assembly. The exterior assembly is mounted on the outer side of the door and has an outside mounting seat, a press-button, a transmitting device, a transmitting board, an engaging wheel and a rotating spindle. The cylinder is mounted in the exterior assembly and has a cylinder-transmitting panel. The multi-point latch is mounted in the sidewall of the door and is connected to the exterior assembly and the cylinder. The interior assembly is mounted on the inner side of the door, is connected to the exterior assembly and the cylinder and has an inside mounting seat, a operating handle, a switch, a linking device, a seat board, an inside reset spring and a switch mount.
Abstract:
A meta-stable state nitrogen-containing polymer formed by reacting Compound (A) and Compound (B) is described. Compound (A) is a monomer having a reactive terminal functional group. Compound (B) is a heterocyclic amino aromatic derivative as an initiator. The molar ratio of Compound (A) to Compound (B) is from 10:1 to 1:10. The meta-stable state nitrogen-containing polymer has a variance less than 2% in its narrow molecular weight distribution after being retained at 55° C. for one month.