An apparatus includes a method for providing a Shape Memory Polymer Based Passive Thermal Diode (SMP-PTD) that includes layers and is configured to provide passive heating and cooling of a pipeline. The SMP-PTD includes a polyurethane (PU) layer configured to contact at least an upper portion along a length of a pipe. The SMP-PTD further includes a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) layer configured to surround the PU layer and the length of the pipe. The SMP-PTD further includes a graphene layer configured to surround an upper side of the SMP-PTD and cross layers of the SMP-PTD toward a bottom side of the SMP-PTD to establish contact with the pipe. The SMP-PTD further includes an epoxy shell configured to surround the graphene layer. The SMP-PTD further includes a shape memory polymer (SMP) ring configured to provide vertical displacement and push upward upon lateral displacement from pushing by left and right PET blocks. The SMP-PTD is installed on the pipeline.

Disclosed are compositions and methods for use in oil and gas operations.

Disclosed are compositions and methods for use in oil and gas operations.

A flow meter system and method measures fluid flow in a conduit. The conduit has a conduit axis. The flow meter includes a sensor configured to provide measurement data relating to the volumetric or mass flowrate though the conduit, and a processor configured to determine flow per unit time in the conduit using the measurement data, an uncertainty measurement per unit time using the measurement data, and an uncertainty quantity using the uncertainty measurement per unit time. The uncertainty quantity is totaled over a time period.

Disclosed are methods for preparing a high-viscosity non-hazardous bitumen composition for transportation in a railcar, wherein the method may include: (a) providing to a fractionator system a low-viscosity bitumen composition previously residing in a pipeline having a first viscosity and comprising a miscible blend of hydrocarbons, which blend was prepared by mixing a first diluent composition with a first bitumen composition; (b) heating the low-viscosity bitumen composition in the fractionator system at an operating temperature of from 170 C to 232 C to provide a first light fraction and a first heavy fraction; (c) removing at least a portion of the first heavy fraction from the fractionator system, wherein the first heavy fraction has a second viscosity that is higher than the first viscosity; (d) forming a high-viscosity non-hazardous bitumen composition from at least a portion of the first heavy fraction; and (e) directing the high-viscosity non-hazardous bitumen composition to a railcar.

The invention provides a cooler system for a hydrocarbon flow system and a method of use. The cooler system comprises a heat exchange conduit comprising a primary inlet for receiving a fluid to be cooled and a primary outlet. A return conduit is fluidly connected to the heat exchange conduit at a return location downstream of the primary inlet, and is configured to direct at least a proportion of fluid in the heat exchange conduit from the return location to a secondary cooler inlet system. The secondary cooler inlet system enables inflow of recycled fluid from the return conduit to the heat exchange conduit at a plurality of inflow positions along the hydrocarbon flow system, upstream of the return location. The method comprises flowing fluid into the hydrocarbon flow system at one or more of the plurality of inflow positions.

The invention provides a cooler system for a hydrocarbon flow system and a method of use. The cooler system comprises a heat exchange conduit comprising a primary inlet for receiving a fluid to be cooled and a primary outlet. A return conduit is fluidly connected to the heat exchange conduit at a return location downstream of the primary inlet, and is configured to direct at least a proportion of fluid in the heat exchange conduit from the return location to a secondary cooler inlet system. The secondary cooler inlet system enables inflow of recycled fluid from the return conduit to the heat exchange conduit at a plurality of inflow positions along the hydrocarbon flow system, upstream of the return location. The method comprises flowing fluid into the hydrocarbon flow system at one or more of the plurality of inflow positions.

A combination comprising a receptacle of defined internal volume, which contains a chemical reaction product. The product may be made in apparatus for undertaking a chemical reaction which comprises an elongate housing and a receptacle. The elongate housing may include a cooling means and end fittings which may include ports where fluids may be introduced and/or removed.

A combination comprising a receptacle of defined internal volume, which contains a chemical reaction product. The product may be made in apparatus for undertaking a chemical reaction which comprises an elongate housing and a receptacle. The elongate housing may include a cooling means and end fittings which may include ports where fluids may be introduced and/or removed.

The present invention is directed to an improved fluid diode using topology optimization with Finite Element Method (FEM). Topology optimization as a flexible optimization method has been extended to the fluid field. For given boundary conditions and constraints, it distributes a specific amount of pores (or remove materials to get channel) in the design domain to minimize/maximize an objective function. In this design, inlet and outlet ports are aligned and inflow and outflow are in the same direction. The present invention features an intricate network of fluid channels having optimized fluid connectivity and shapes, which significantly improves the diodicity of fluidic passive valves.