Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing improved synthetic velocity logs from seismic traces. The seismic traces are processed to enhance high frequency content by converting each trace to a spike trace, then filtering the spike trace with a function designed to reduce side lobes and enhance high frequency content. The processed trace is then operated on by a conventional summation process to produce a synthetic velocity log. Due to the enhanced high frequency content of the processed trace, the resulting synthetic log tends to show sharp discontinuities in the geology, much like a log taken from a well.

Abstract: A hydraulic vibrator having an adjustable piston rod and a fixed piston rod to vary the cylinder volume for operation at different vibration frequencies. The adjustable piston rod is in threaded engagement with the fixed piston rod and has a piston head adjacent a piston head on the fixed piston rod. Rotation of the adjustable piston rod displaces the two piston heads, thereby varying the cylinder volume of the hydraulic vibrator.

Abstract: Vibrator apparatus having adjustable cylinder volume by means of a continuously adjustable end sleeve that varies the axial limit of the cylinder. A reaction mass with an axial cylinder bore reciprocates on a double rod piston. Frist and second end sleeves define the cylinder volume and one end sleeve is threaded and axially translatable relative to the piston to vary volume while a position sensing device continually maintains centering of the piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: A method of three-component seismology wherein seismic energy induced vertical, radial and transverse particle movement is detected at plural spaced positions along a survey line to produce orthogonal data signals, and the different orthogonal data signals are variously processed both separately and interactively to develope novel signal relationships which improve indication and identification of steeply dipping reflections, out-of-plane reflections, and the like.

Abstract: A method for processing seismic data in the x-t domain to derive a slant stack in the p-tau domain wherein partial slant stacks are computed over a plurality of small groups of traces which are iteratively merged using linear interpolation into successively larger groups of traces to exhibit the p-tau data characteristics.

Abstract: A tool for undersea oil recovery operations having a framework to carry instruments to the sea bottom to determine the angle of inclination of a ring girder secured to a monopile driven into the sea bottom. The same tool, with minor modifications, is used to transport a wedge-shaped leveling wafer to the bottom after the wafer has been fabricated to correct the previously determined inclinations.

Abstract: A neutron detector system is disclosed wherein a neutron charge amplifier discriminator circuit is used in conjunction with a neutron detector enabling detection of nuclear events, amplification of extremely small signals, conditioning of the signals, further amplification of the signal, discrimination of the signals, conversion into digital form and counting for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An offshore facility is formed by positioning an open top container having a barge therein at a predetermined offshore location. The container is flooded with water to sink the container to the subwater surface at the location, and to float the barge in the vicinity of the open top of the container. Thereafter, the water within the container is dispersed with material such as a sand slurry suitable for supporting the barge in the vicinity of the top of the container.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for greatly increasing the efficiency of heater treater units, such as those used in heavy oil recovery, wherein exhaust air from the heater treater is circulated around incoming heavy oil lines from a freewater knockout unit to preheat the heavy oil reducing the required temperature increment provided by the heater treater to achieve a predetermined temperature for water/oil separation.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube is used for quality control in conjunction with a method and apparatus for monitoring seismic data gathers. As seismic reflection data is acquired, it is displayed on a cathode ray tube and visually monitored to determine whether information channels are to be deleted due to excess noise, improper amplification, etc., prior to recording the acquired data.

Abstract: The interface between a computer and a solid state mass memory is provided by an electronic circuit wherein data is rearranged. Data may be received in multiplexed or unmultiplexed form. The disclosed electronic circuit assigns address locations using three parameters, a starting location parameter, an increment value parameter and an increment repetition parameter to permit nonsequential addressing or memory location skipping.

Abstract: A floating point formatter for changing fixed point serial digital data, such as that received by a seismic data acquisiton system, is disclosed wherein fixed point serial digital data is received and scaled to remove any bias added by preamplification. The scaled data is shifted a predetermined number of bits and a resulting exponent is calculated. The shifted data signal and corresponding exponent are combined and further scaled to permit stacking the data without exceeding the system capacity.

Abstract: A floatation apparatus is disclosed wherein a buoy for maintaining the near surface position of marine equipment is mounted on a hydrodynamically advantageous V-shaped frame to reduce frictional drag associated with towing surface equipment.

Abstract: An electronic circuit is disclosed wherein a two-stage DC offset filter is provided and implemented serially to coincide with serially implemented seismic data gathers. A first stage corrects the offset in a multichannel system due to amplification stages common to all channels. A second stage includes a circuit for determining the DC offset unique to each channel and compensates for each channel automatically and individually.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for impact testing ice in a laboratory environment simulates in-situ conditions wherein an ice sample is confined triaxially and maintained at a controlled temperature to approximate a semi infinite mass. An impact device impinges on the ice sample so confined.

Abstract: An electronic power control circuit used in recording seismic data at unmanned remote locations is disclosed wherein the power requirements are minimized by segregating power distribution between continuous and non-continuous requirements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for indicating the effectiveness of aviation fuel filters and separators wherein a small Teflon monitor is installed in conjunction with paper separator elements and is periodically removed to test the surfactant level within the aviation fuel filters and separators.

Abstract: An electronic circuit within a control unit for use with a remotely operated seismic tape recorder is disclosed wherein recording direction and motion are detected and retained for efficient data recordation. A seismic data recording system having some portions which are continuously energized and other portions having power switched off when not in operation retains information concerning recording direction, motion and track number to provide a smooth transition between inoperation and not in operation for the other portions of the seismic data recording system.

Abstract: This system develops an ore body in two lifts, driven from opposite ends (at different times) and utilizes the concept of lane pillars rather than square block pillars. These conditions generate a new ventilation system that is flexible and well suited for the varying air requirements in oil shale mining.The ore handling system is load-haul-dump (LHD) to portable crushers to belts to surface. The layout of this method introduces unique functions for this system by creating two directional ore flow from the workings, which optimize logistics and material handling methods.