Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. A method for extending a print area by means of a window driver for transmitting an image to be printed according to a print command input from an external source, and a printer for printing the transmitted image to be printed, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) executing a first print step of the window driver by transmitting, to the printer according to the print command input, a first portion of the image to be printed on a piece of paper, the first portion being bounded by a lower end margin of the piece of paper; and
(b) executing a second print step of the window driver by transmitting, to the printer, a second portion of the image to be printed on a portion of the piece of paper below the lower end margin.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second print step is executed after printing on the piece of paper in the first print step.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises the steps of:
(a-1) determining, by means of the printer, whether the image to be printed exceeds the lower end margin of a set piece of paper;
(a-2) when the image to be printed exceeds the lower end margin of the set piece of paper, forming a first image to be printed as far as the lower end margin; and
(a-3) transmitting the formed first image to the printer, and printing the transmitted formed first image.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein, in step (a-1), the printer determines whether the image to be printed exceeds the lower end margin of the piece of paper from predetermined graphic device interface (GDI) information.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of:
(b-1) outputting a message for changing a position of the paper on which the first portion is printed; and
(b-2) transmitting, to the printer, the second portion of the image to be printed on the portion of the piece of paper below the lower end margin, and printing the second portion below the first portion on the piece of paper, the position of which is inverted according to the message for changing the position of the paper on which the first portion of the image is printed.
6. A method for extending a print area for an image to be printed by a printer according to a print command input, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) transmitting, to the printer, the image to be printed on a piece of paper, a first portion of the image to be printed being bounded by a lower end margin of the piece of paper; and
(b) transmitting, to the printer, a second portion of the image to be printed on a portion of the piece of paper below the lower end margin.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (b) is executed after printing on the piece of paper is carried out in step (a).
8. The method of claim 6, wherein step (a) comprises the steps of:
(a-1) determining whether the image to be printed exceeds the lower end margin of the piece of paper;
(a-2) when the image to be printed exceeds the lower end margin of the piece of paper, forming a first image, corresponding to the first portion of the image, to be printed as far as the lower end margin; and
(a-3) transmitting the formed first image to the printer for printing as far as the lower end margin.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein step (a-1) is carried out by the printer using predetermined graphic device interface (GDI) information.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of:
(b-1) outputting a message for changing a position of the paper on which the first portion of the image is printed; and
(b-2) transmitting, to the printer, the second portion of the image to be printed on the portion of the piece of paper below the lower end margin, and printing the second portion below the first portion on the piece of paper, the position of which is inverted according to the message for changing the position of the paper on which the first portion of the image is printed.
11. A method for extending a print area for a document to be printed by a printer according to a print command input, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving the print command input;
(b) determining whether an actual size of the document to be printed exceeds a size of the print area on a paper on which the document is to be printed;
(c) when the actual size of the document to be printed does not exceed the size of the print area on the paper on which the document is to be printed, printing the document on the paper; and
(d) when the actual size of the document to be printed does exceed the size of the print area on the paper on which the document is to be printed, forming a first image corresponding to a portion of the document to be printed up to a lower end margin of the paper, forming a second image corresponding to another portion of the document to be printed below the first image and within the lower end margin of the paper, and printing the first and second images in sequence on the paper.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the position of the paper in the printer is changed by a user between the printing of the first image and the printing of the second image.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the paper is inverted in the printer by the user between the printing of the first image and the printing of the second image.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein a message calling for the user to invert the paper in the printer is generated after the printing of the first image.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein a message calling for the user to change the position of the paper in the printer is generated after the printing of the first image.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein a message calling for a user to change the position of the paper in the printer is generated between the printing of the first image and the printing of the second image.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the paper is inverted in the printer by the user between the printing of the first image and the printing of the second image in response to the generated message.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An apparatus to control speed of a cooling fan, the apparatus comprising:
a power sensing module that senses input voltage and input current of a stage of a power supply, the power supply comprising one or more stages, the power supply configured to regulate at least one output bus;
a power calculation module that calculates input power from the input voltage and the input current;
a temperature sensing module that senses a temperature at a component, the component cooled by a fan;
a fan speed calculation module that calculates a fan speed signal for the fan, the fan speed signal being a function of the input power calculated by the power calculation module and the sensed temperature for at least a portion of a fan speed range; and
a fan speed transmission module that transmits the fan speed signal to the fan, the fan adjusting a fan speed based on the fan speed signal.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan speed signal for at least a portion of the fan speed range comprises the input power multiplied by a power constant added to the sensed temperature multiplied by a temperature constant.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan speed signal comprises a fan speed maximum signal corresponding to a fan speed maximum limit, wherein the fan speed signal is a function of the input power and the sensed temperature for at least a portion of the fan speed range below the fan speed maximum limit.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fan speed maximum limit comprises one or more of an absolute maximum fan speed independent of the sensed temperature and the input power, and a relative maximum fan speed that is a function of the sensed temperature, the relative maximum fan speed being lower than the absolute maximum fan speed.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the fan speed maximum limit comprises at least the relative maximum fan speed and wherein the fan speed signal is a function of the input power and sensed temperature when the input power is below an input power maximum level and when the input power is above the input power maximum level, the fan speed signal is fixed such that the fan speed is equal to the relative maximum fan speed.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan speed signal comprises a fan speed minimum signal corresponding to a fan speed minimum limit, wherein the fan speed signal is a function of the input power and the sensed temperature for at least a portion of the fan speed range above the fan speed minimum limit.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fan speed minimum limit comprises one or more of an absolute minimum fan speed independent of the sensed temperature and the input power, and a relative minimum fan speed that is a function of the sensed temperature, the relative minimum fan speed being higher than the absolute minimum fan speed.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the fan speed minimum limit comprises at least the relative minimum fan speed and wherein the fan speed signal is a function of the input power and sensed temperature when the input power is above an input power minimum level and when the input power is below the input power maximum level, the fan speed signal is fixed such that the fan speed is equal to the relative minimum fan speed.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan comprises a power supply fan, the sensed temperature comprises a power supply temperature and the fan speed signal comprises a power supply fan speed signal calculated using the power supply temperature, and wherein
the temperature sensing module further comprises sensing a system temperature;
the fan speed calculation module calculates a system fan speed signal, the system fan speed signal being a function of the input power and the sensed system temperature for at least a portion of a system fan speed range; and
the fan speed transmission module further transmits the system fan speed signal to a system fan, the system fan adjusting a system fan speed based on the system fan speed signal.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the system fan selects from two or more system fan speed signals, each system fan speed signal being received from a fan speed transmission module of a separate power supply, wherein a temperature sensing module of each power supply senses a common system temperature.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the system temperature comprises a temperature of one or more of a processor temperature, a hard drive temperature, a memory temperature, and an ambient computer temperature.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein sensing temperature at a component comprises one or more of sensing temperature of one or more switching elements within the power supply, sensing an ambient temperature of the power supply, and sensing temperature of a power supply pulse-width modulator.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing temperature at a component comprises sensing a system temperature at a system component outside of the power supply and the fan comprises a system fan providing cooling to the system component.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input voltage and the input current are measured at one of:
a location where power enters the power supply; and
a location within the power supply, wherein a measured voltage and a measured current are a function of the input voltage and input current respectively, and wherein the measured voltage and measured current are adjusted by one or more factors to represent the input power.
15. An apparatus to control speed of a cooling fan, the apparatus comprising:
a power sensing module that senses input voltage and input current of a stage of a power supply, the power supply comprising one or more stages, the power supply configured to regulate at least one output bus;
a power calculation module that calculates input power from the input voltage and the input current;
a temperature sensing module that senses a power supply temperature at a power supply component and senses a system temperature at a system component, the power supply temperature sensed within the power supply, the system temperature sensed within an electronic component serving as a load to the power supply;
a fan speed calculation module that calculates a power supply fan speed signal for a power supply fan and calculates a system fan speed signal for a system cooling fan, the power supply fan speed signal being a function of the input power calculated by the power calculation module and the sensed power supply temperature for at least a portion of a power supply fan speed range of the power supply fan, the system fan speed signal being a function of the input power calculated by the power calculation module and the sensed system temperature for at least a portion of a system fan speed range of the system fan; and
a fan speed transmission module that transmits the power supply fan speed signal to the power supply fan and transmits the system fan speed signal to the system fan, the power supply fan adjusting a power supply fan speed based on the power supply fan speed signal, the system fan adjusting a system fan speed based on the system fan speed signal.
16. A system to control speed of a cooling fan, the system comprising:
a power supply, the power supply comprising one or more stages, the power supply configured to regulate at least one output bus;
a fan providing cooling for a component;
a power sensing module that senses input voltage and input current of a stage of the power supply;
a power calculation module that calculates input power from the input voltage and the input current;
a temperature sensing module that senses a temperature at the component, the component cooled by the fan;
a fan speed calculation module that calculates a fan speed signal for the fan, the fan speed signal being a function of the input power calculated by the power calculation module and the sensed temperature for at least a portion of a fan speed range; and
a fan speed transmission module that transmits the fan speed signal to the fan, the fan adjusting a fan speed based on the fan speed signal.
17. The system of claim 16, further comprising an electronic device comprising a load for the power supply and connected to one or more output buses of the power supply.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the fan comprises a power supply fan, the sensed temperature comprises a power supply temperature, and the fan speed signal comprises a power supply fan speed signal calculated using the power supply temperature, the electronic device further comprising a system fan, and wherein
the temperature sensing module further comprises sensing a system temperature within the electronic device;
the fan speed calculation module calculates a system fan speed signal, the system fan speed signal being a function of the input power and the sensed system temperature for at least a portion of a system fan speed range; and
the fan speed transmission module further transmits the system fan speed signal to the system fan, the system fan adjusting a system fan speed based on the system fan speed signal.
19. The system of claim 17, wherein the electronic component comprises one of a blade in a blade center, a server, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a router, a switch, a printer, an appliance, a portable electronic device, an electronic music device, a phone, and a personal digital assistant.
20. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer usable program code executable to perform operations for controlling speed of a cooling fan, the operations of the computer program product comprising:
sensing input voltage and input current of a stage of a power supply, the power supply comprising one or more stages, the power supply configured to regulate at least one output bus;
calculating input power from the input voltage and the input current;
sensing a temperature at a component, the component cooled by a fan;
calculating a fan speed signal for the fan, the fan speed signal being a function of the input power calculated by the power calculation module and the sensed temperature for at least a portion of a fan speed range; and
transmitting the fan speed signal to the fan, the fan adjusting a fan speed based on the fan speed signal.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of managing network resources in a terminating node of an information delivery network, said method comprising:
receiving an inbound data container comprising a data item, said data container specifying a size of said data item and global positioning information for an originating node in said information delivery network;
determining global positioning information for said terminating node; and
analyzing said inbound data container by comparing said global positioning information for said originating node and said terminating node.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said inbound data container specifies at least one of a type of said data item and a grade of delivery service.
3. The method of claim 2, said analyzing step further comprising:
associating a monetary value with said inbound data container according to at least one of said size of said data item, said type of said data item, and said grade of delivery service.
4. The method of claim 1, said analyzing step comprising:
calculating a distance between said originating node and said terminating node.
5. The method of claim 4, said analyzing step comprising:
associating a monetary value with said inbound data container according to said determined distance.
6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
determining which one of a plurality of originating nodes having duplicate items of information is closest to said terminating node; and
requesting at least one of said duplicate items of information from said closest one of said plurality of originating nodes.
7. The method of claim 1, said analyzing step comprising:
determining bandwidth usage according to said received inbound data container.
8. The method of claim 1, said analyzing step comprising:
calculating a measure of time between said data container being sent from said originating node and said data container being received by said terminating node.
9. The method of claim 8, said analyzing step further comprising:
associating a monetary value with said inbound data container according to said measure of time.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
determining one of a plurality of originating nodes having duplicate items of information which provides at least one of said items of duplicate information in a smallest measure of time; and
requesting at least one of said duplicate items of information from said one of said plurality of originating nodes.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
consulting a delivery profile specifying data container attributes of allowable data containers;
comparing said received data container with said delivery profile; and
determining whether to accept delivery of said inbound data container.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said delivery profile specifies regions from which allowable data containers can originate.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
associating a data request with an outbound data container, said outbound data container specifying a size of said data request;
determining a second set of global positioning information for said terminating node;
including said second set of global positioning information within said outbound data container; and
sending said outbound data container through said information delivery network.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
determining bandwidth usage according to said sent outbound data container.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
allocating a predetermined number of said inbound and outbound data containers to accounts; and
tracking consumption of said allocated inbound and outbound data containers to determine bandwidth usage.
16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
allocating a predetermined number of data containers to accounts, said data containers to be used as said inbound and said outbound data containers; and
tracking consumption of said allocated data containers to determine bandwidth usage.
17. A machine-readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:
receiving an inbound data container comprising a data item, said data container specifying a size of said data item and global positioning information for an originating node in said information delivery network;
determining global positioning information for said terminating node; and
analyzing said inbound data container by comparing said global positioning information for said originating node and said terminating node.
18. The machine-readable storage of claim 17, wherein said inbound data container specifies at least one of a type of said data item and a grade of delivery service.
19. The machine-readable storage of claim 18, said analyzing step further comprising:
associating a monetary value with said inbound data container according to at least one of said size of said data item, said type of said data item, and said grade of delivery service.
20. The machine-readable storage of claim 17, said analyzing step comprising:
calculating a distance between said originating node and said terminating node.
21. The machine-readable storage of claim 20, said analyzing step comprising:
associating a monetary value with said inbound data container according to said determined distance.
22. The machine-readable storage of claim 20, further comprising:
determining which one of a plurality of originating nodes having duplicate items of information is closest to said terminating node; and
requesting at least one of said duplicate items of information from said closest one of said plurality of originating nodes.
23. The machine-readable storage of claim 17, said analyzing step comprising:
determining bandwidth usage according to said received inbound data container.
24. The machine-readable storage of claim 17, said analyzing step comprising:
calculating a measure of time between said data container being sent from said originating node and said data container being received by said terminating node.
25. The machine-readable storage of claim 24, said analyzing step further comprising:
associating a monetary value with said inbound data container according to said measure of time.
26. The machine-readable storage of claim 24, further comprising:
determining one of a plurality of originating nodes having duplicate items of information which provides at least one of said items of duplicate information in a smallest measure of time; and
requesting at least one of said duplicate items of information from said one of said plurality of originating nodes.
27. The machine-readable storage of claim 17, further comprising:
consulting a delivery profile specifying data container attributes of allowable data containers;
comparing said received data container with said delivery profile; and
determining whether to accept delivery of said inbound data container.
28. The machine-readable storage of claim 27, wherein said delivery profile specifies regions from which allowable data containers can originate.
29. The machine-readable storage of claim 17, further comprising:
associating a data request with an outbound data container, said outbound data container specifying a size of said data request;
determining a second set of global positioning information for said terminating node;
including said second set of global positioning information within said outbound data container; and
sending said outbound data container through said information delivery network.
30. The machine-readable storage of claim 29, further comprising:
determining bandwidth usage according to said sent outbound data container.
31. The machine-readable storage of claim 29, further comprising:
allocating a predetermined number of said inbound and outbound data containers to accounts; and
tracking consumption of said allocated inbound and outbound data containers to determine bandwidth usage.
32. The machine-readable storage of claim 29, further comprising:
allocating a predetermined number of data containers to accounts, said data containers to be used as said inbound and said outbound data containers; and
tracking consumption of said allocated data containers to determine bandwidth usage.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for recovering petroleum products from a petroleum-bearing formation, comprising:
flowing a catalytic material comprising a nanocatalyst into a formation comprising a heavy crude oil;
exposing the heavy crude oil and the catalytic material to a reducing agent;
positioning a steam generator within the formation;
generating and releasing steam from the steam generator to heat the heavy crude oil comprising the catalytic material;
forming lighter oil products from the heavy crude oil within the formation; and
extracting the lighter oil products from the formation.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, alloys thereof, oxides thereof, sulfides thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises iron and a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, alloys thereof, oxides thereof, sulfides thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises iron, nickel, and molybdenum.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises a nickel compound and a molybdenum compound.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises a cobalt compound and a molybdenum compound.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises tungsten oxide, tungsten sulfide, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein the catalytic material comprises the nanocatalyst supported on carbon nanoparticulate.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the carbon nanoparticulate has a diameter of less than 1 \u03bcm.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the diameter is within a range from about 5 nm to about 500 nm.
11. The method of claim 2, wherein the catalytic material comprises the nanocatalyst supported on alumina, silica, molecular sieves, ceramic materials, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the heavy crude oil comprising the catalytic material is heated by the steam to a temperature of less than about 600\xb0 F.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the temperature is within a range from about 250\xb0 F. to about 580\xb0 F.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the temperature is within a range from about 400\xb0 F. to about 550\xb0 F.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the reducing agent comprises a reagent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen gas, carbon monoxide, synthetic gas, tetralin, decalin, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the catalytic material and the reducing agent are co-flowed into the formation.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the reducing agent comprises hydrogen gas.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the hydrogen gas has a partial pressure of about 100 psi or greater within the formation.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the steam is generated by combusting oxygen gas and hydrogen gas within the steam generator.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the oxygen gas and the hydrogen gas are each transferred from outside of the formation, through a borehole, and into the formation.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein the steam is generated by combusting oxygen gas and a hydrocarbon gas within the steam generator.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the oxygen gas and the hydrocarbon gas are each transferred from outside of the formation, through a borehole, and into the formation.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the hydrocarbon gas comprises methane.
24. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing viscosity of the heavy crude oil by exposing the heavy crude oil and the catalytic material to carbon dioxide.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the carbon dioxide is transferred from outside of the formation, through a borehole, and into the formation.
26. The method of claim 1, wherein the lighter oil products comprise a lower concentration of a sulfur impurity than the heavy crude oil.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the lighter oil products comprise about 50% by weight or less of the sulfur impurity than the heavy crude oil.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the lighter oil products comprise about 30% by weight or less of the sulfur impurity than the heavy crude oil.
29. A method for recovering petroleum products from a petroleum-bearing formation, comprising:
flowing a catalytic material comprising a nanocatalyst into a formation comprising a heavy crude oil;
exposing the heavy crude oil and the catalytic material to an oxidizing agent;
positioning a steam generator within the formation;
generating and releasing steam from the steam generator to heat the heavy crude oil comprising the catalytic material;
forming lighter oil products from the heavy crude oil within the formation; and
extracting the lighter oil products from the formation.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises a member selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, aluminum, silicon, oxides thereof, alloys thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises titanium oxide.
32. The method of claim 30, wherein the catalytic material comprises the nanocatalyst supported on carbon nanotubes.
33. The method of claim 30, wherein the catalytic material comprises the nanocatalyst supported on alumina, silica, molecular sieves, ceramic materials, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof.
34. The method of claim 29, wherein the heavy crude oil comprising the catalytic material is heated by the steam to a temperature of less than about 600\xb0 F.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the temperature is within a range from about 250\xb0 F. to about 580\xb0 F.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein the temperature is within a range from about 400\xb0 F. to about 550\xb0 F.
37. The method of claim 29, wherein the oxidizing agent comprises a reagent selected from the group consisting of oxygen gas, air, oxygen enriched air, hydrogen peroxide solution, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein the catalytic material and the oxidizing agent are co-flowed into the formation.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein the oxidizing agent comprises oxygen gas.
40. The method of claim 29, wherein the steam is generated by combusting oxygen gas and hydrogen gas within the steam generator.
41. The method of claim 40, wherein the oxygen gas and the hydrogen gas are each transferred from outside of the formation, through a borehole, and into the formation.
42. The method of claim 29, wherein the steam is generated by combusting oxygen gas and a hydrocarbon gas within the steam generator.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein the oxygen gas and the hydrocarbon gas are each transferred from outside of the formation, through a borehole, and into the formation.
44. The method of claim 43, wherein the hydrocarbon gas comprises methane.
45. The method of claim 29, further comprising reducing viscosity of the heavy crude oil by exposing the heavy crude oil and the catalytic material to carbon dioxide.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein the carbon dioxide is transferred from outside of the formation, through a borehole, and into the formation.
47. The method of claim 29, wherein the lighter oil products comprise a lower concentration of a sulfur impurity than the heavy crude oil.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein the lighter oil products comprise about 50% by weight or less of the sulfur impurity than the heavy crude oil.
49. The method of claim 48, wherein the lighter oil products comprise about 30% by weight or less of the sulfur impurity than the heavy crude oil.
50. A method for recovering petroleum products from a petroleum-bearing formation, comprising:
flowing a nanocatalyst and a reducing agent into a formation comprising a heavy crude oil, wherein the nanocatalyst and the heavy crude oil form a nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture;
positioning a steam generator within the formation;
generating and releasing steam from the steam generator to heat the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture within the formation;
forming lighter oil products by hydrogenating the heavy crude oil within the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture; and
extracting the lighter oil products from the formation.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, alloys thereof, oxides thereof, sulfides thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
52. The method of claim 51, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises iron and a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, alloys thereof, oxides thereof, sulfides thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
53. The method of claim 52, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises iron, nickel, and molybdenum.
54. The method of claim 51, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises a nickel compound and a molybdenum compound.
55. The method of claim 51, wherein the nanocatalyst is supported on carbon nanoparticulate.
56. The method of claim 55, wherein the carbon nanoparticulate has a diameter of less than 1 \u03bcm.
57. The method of claim 56, wherein the diameter is within a range from about 5 nm to about 500 nm.
58. The method of claim 51, wherein the nanocatalyst is supported on alumina, silica, molecular sieves, ceramic materials, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof.
59. The method of claim 50, wherein the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture is heated by the steam to a temperature of less than about 600\xb0 F.
60. The method of claim 59, wherein the temperature is within a range from about 250\xb0 F. to about 580\xb0 F.
61. The method of claim 60, wherein the temperature is within a range from about 400\xb0 F. to about 550\xb0 F.
62. The method of claim 50, wherein the reducing agent comprises a reagent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen gas, carbon monoxide, synthetic gas, tetralin, decalin, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
63. The method of claim 62, wherein the nanocatalyst and the reducing agent are co-flowed into the formation.
64. The method of claim 63, wherein the reducing agent comprises hydrogen gas.
65. The method of claim 64, wherein the hydrogen gas has a partial pressure of about 100 psi or greater within the formation.
66. The method of claim 50, wherein the steam is generated by combusting oxygen gas and hydrogen gas within the steam generator.
67. The method of claim 66, wherein the oxygen gas and the hydrogen gas are each transferred from outside of the formation, through a borehole, and into the formation.
68. The method of claim 50, wherein the steam is generated by combusting oxygen gas and a hydrocarbon gas within the steam generator.
69. The method of claim 68, wherein the oxygen gas and the hydrocarbon gas are each transferred from outside of the formation, through a borehole, and into the formation.
70. The method of claim 69, wherein the hydrocarbon gas comprises methane.
71. The method of claim 50, further comprising reducing viscosity of the heavy crude oil by exposing the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture to carbon dioxide.
72. The method of claim 71, wherein the carbon dioxide is transferred from outside of the formation, through a borehole, and into the formation.
73. The method of claim 50, wherein the lighter oil products comprise a lower concentration of a sulfur impurity than the heavy crude oil.
74. The method of claim 73, wherein the lighter oil products comprise about 50% by weight or less of the sulfur impurity than the heavy crude oil.
75. The method of claim 74, wherein the lighter oil products comprise about 30% by weight or less of the sulfur impurity than the heavy crude oil.
76. A method for recovering petroleum products from a petroleum-bearing formation, comprising:
flowing a carrier gas through a first vessel containing a first batch of a catalytic material comprising a nanocatalyst within a first vessel;
preparing a second batch of the catalytic material within a second vessel;
flowing the catalytic material and the carrier gas from the first vessel and into a formation comprising a heavy crude oil, wherein the nanocatalyst and the heavy crude oil form a nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture;
exposing the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture to a reducing agent;
positioning a steam generator within the formation;
generating and releasing steam from the steam generator to heat the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture within the formation;
forming lighter oil products by hydrogenating the heavy crude oil within the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture; and
extracting the lighter oil products from the formation.
77. The method of claim 76, wherein the carrier gas comprises carbon dioxide.
78. The method of claim 76, wherein preparing the second batch of the catalytic material further comprises combining the nanocatalyst and nanoparticulate within the second vessel.
79. The method of claim 78, wherein the nanocatalyst comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, alloys thereof, oxides thereof, sulfides thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.
80. The method of claim 79, wherein the nanoparticulate comprises carbon, alumina, silica, molecular sieves, ceramic materials, derivatives thereof, or combinations thereof.
81. The method of claim 80, wherein the nanoparticulate has a diameter of less than 1 \u03bcm.
82. The method of claim 81, wherein the diameter is within a range from about 5 nm to about 500 nm.
83. A method for recovering petroleum products from a petroleum-bearing formation, comprising:
flowing a nanocatalyst and a reducing agent into a formation comprising a heavy crude oil, wherein the nanocatalyst and the heavy crude oil form a nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture;
heating the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture within the formation to a temperature of less than about 600\xb0 F.;
forming lighter oil products by hydrogenating the heavy crude oil within the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture; and
extracting the lighter oil products from the formation.
84. The method of claim 83, wherein heating the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture within the formation further comprises flowing heated gas, liquid, or fluid from outside of the formation, through a borehole, and into the formation while exposing the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture.
85. The method of claim 84, wherein the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture is exposed to heated water, steam, or combinations thereof.
86. The method of claim 83, wherein the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture is heated within the formation by an electric heater positioned within the formation.
87. The method of claim 83, wherein heating the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture within the formation further comprises:
positioning a steam generator within the formation; and
generating and releasing steam from the steam generator to heat the nanocatalyst heavy oil mixture within the formation.
88. The method of claim 83, wherein the temperature is within a range from about 250\xb0 F. to about 580\xb0 F.
89. The method of claim 88, wherein the temperature is within a range from about 400\xb0 F. to about 550\xb0 F.