Abstract: Subterranean oil-bearing formations are treated with aqueous acid solutions which include an effective amount of an alkoxylated alkyl substituted phenol sulfonate which exhibits both antisludge and demulsification properties.

Abstract: A common bandwidth determination method for two disparate seismic datasets includes developing a weighted average of first least-squares filters assuming the data from the first dataset is the input and the data from the second dataset is the desired output, developing a weighted average of second least-squares filters assuming the data from the second dataset is the input and the data from the first dataset is the desired output, determining a first transfer function from the first weighted average filter design and a second transfer function from the second weighted average filter design, plotting respective amplitude and phase spectra using each of the first and second transfer functions, plotting the product of the amplitude spectra and the sum of the phase spectra and determining the common bandwidth where the amplitude spectra is one and the phase spectra is zero.

Abstract: A method of filtering and combining seismic data, such as data from two or more seismic sources having different spectral characteristics. A plurality of seismic signals are transmitted into a subterranean earth formation and a resulting data trace for each seismic signal is recorded. A correlating signal is generated for each data trace, such that the sum of the correlations of each correlating signal with its associated trace is an approximately minimum phase signal whose frequency amplitude spectrum is the sum of the frequency amplitude spectra of the seismic signals. In a preferred embodiment, the correlating signals are generated by obtaining reference signals representing the seismic signals prior to propagation through the earth formation, concatenating these reference signals and inserting a zero-amplitude signal between each reference signal, and then performing least-squares deconvolution on the concatenated signal.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for acoustic wave generation and transmission into a subsurface earth formation. A logging sonde adapted to be suspended in a borehole within the formation houses a generator means for simultaneously generating a plurality of acoustic waves traveling in the direction of and spaced substantially evenly about the logitudinal axis of the sonde. An acoustic energy reflector means within the housing reflects the waves radially outwards of the axis and into the formation at angles generally perpendicular to the axis. Detectors within the housing spaced longitudinally from the generator and reflector detect acoustic energy in the formation resulting from the reflected waves.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for securing two offshore mooring sections together. The apparatus is a connector adapted to quickly disengage each mooring section so that an offshore floating storage vessel, having one mooring section attached to it, may be separated from the riser of an single-anchor-leg-mooring system, having the other mooring section attached to it. The connector comprises a pin member engageable with a hook of a latch member. The latch member is rotated once the hook engages the pin member and a plunger then advances into an open region of the hook prohibiting the rotational movement of the latch member and thereby locking the two mooring sections together.

Abstract: A device for detecting defects in the bore of a tubular member. The device includes an inspection head including an electromagnet for magnetizing the internal surface of a tubular member. The device also includes a sensor or sensors to detect magnetic flux leakage indicative of a defect. The magnetic flux sensor output is sent to a control-data acquisition system concurrently with signals as to the axial and circumferential position of the defect, which are obtained by their respective encoders. The control-data acquisition system is capable of processing and displaying the data in analog and digital form.

Abstract: A method for cementing a casing into a borehole. The borehole is drilled to the desired depth in the usual manner. Before removing the drill string and without substantially interrupting the flow of fluids in the borehole, the mud therein is displaced with a fluid substantially free of undissolved solids from the portion of the borehole into which it is desired to cement the casing. When the solids-free fluid is in place, the drill string is removed, the casing suspended in the borehole, and a cement slurry placed in the annulus where it is allowed to set. Preferably, the solids-free fluid is more viscous and dense than the mud, and less viscous and dense than the cement slurry. Optionally, mutually compatible spacer fluids or cementing plugs are used to separate the mud from the solids-free fluid and the solids-free fluid from the cement slurry.

Abstract: A method for producing a display of acoustic signals received during full waveform acoustic well logging. In a preferred embodiment, the signals received at the individual receiver (or receivers) of the logging tool are stacked along lines of constant acoustic velocity to produce for display a stacked signal. Preferably, the raw signals are weighted prior to the stacking step, to compensate for decreasing amplitude of the acoustic arrival of interest with increasing transmitter to receiver distance. The stacked signals produced may be displayed in various formats, such as on a linear or logarithmic scale of inverse acoustic velocity, or of formation porosity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning a component with an underwater receptacle is disclosed. The component is attached to one end of a swing arm having a hook attached to the other end. The swing arm is lowered in the water until the hook engages a pivot attached to an underwater base at a selected distance from the receptacle. Following such contact, the component is lowered in an arcuate path defined by the rotation of the swing arm about the pivot until the component is aligned with the receptacle. In another embodiment of the invention, a stop is attached to a vertical guidepost at a selected distance from the receptacle and a guidepost engaging hook pivots to lower the component into alignment with the receptacle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for altering the downhole flow path of control fluids or the like in oil and gas wells. A downhole side pocket mandrel in a tubing string has interconnected thereto a supply conduit from the surface and a plurality of receiving conduits. Each receiving conduit is connected to a control device. A plurality of different plug assemblies is provided, each for completing within the mandrel pocket when disposed therein a different hydraulic flow path between the supply conduit and one or more receiving conduits. The plug assemblies are insertable into and retrievable from the mandrel pocket by conventional running tools. Any desired control device may thereby be controlled at the surface with a single supply conduit by selection of the proper plug assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the plug assemblies are comprised of a plurality of subplugs which may be interconnected in differing orders to form the desired plug assembly.

Abstract: A vibration-isolating apparatus for protecting equipment from excessive vibrations. The apparatus discloses an equipment-carrying frame attached by shock-absorbing members to a guide member. The guide member is loosely fastened in operational relationship wth a drillpipe or casing to permit movement of the apparatus. The apparatus is lowered along the drillpipe or casing by a cable or other locomotive means controlled from the surface. Vibration of the drillpipe created by ocean currents or waveloading forces causes the drillpipe to impact and vibrate the guide member of the apparatus. The shock-absorbing members protect equipment attached to the frame by attenuating the excessive vibrations induced by the drillpipe on the apparatus. Shock-absorbing members of varying stiffness can be substituted to attenuate the differing vibrational forces exerted by each particular drillpipe.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating a shock wave in water comprising a housing capable of containing compressed gas, attachment means fastened to the housing by which the apparatus is oriented in a selected positioned and exhaust means in the housing positioned to release compressed gas in directions other than substantially upward. In a preferred embodiment, a commercially available compressed air gun is modified by blinding off the uppermost exhaust ports.

Abstract: A well perforator system and method employs an electromagnetic wave frequency receiver, one for each of at least two gun intervals, that receives a transmitted signal conveyed through well tubing from the earth's surface. The signal is converted to an electrical pulse which detonates a blasting cap and fires the gun perforators. Each gun interval is a separate system with different activating frequencies and each is separately activated to assure that all the intervals are fired. A timer may be used to activate the electromagnetic wave receiver after the gun is in the well to prevent accidental surface firing of the guns from stray sources of electromagnetic waves. Once in the well, only the transmitted pulses are able to detonate the guns. Once the last interval is fired, a wave frequency-activated gun above the uppermost gun interval is detonated with circulation shots to penetrate only the tubing. This creates an instant, intense pressure drop across the perforations to help in cleanup.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting excessive wear of a rotatable bit used in drilling. In particular, the apparatus can detect loss of gauge or bearing failure in a bit. The method is accomplished by connecting a restricting means in the drill bit that can be manipulated to reduce the flow of drilling fluid through at least one port in the drill bit. A wire is connected between a sensor which senses wear and the restriction means to cause the restriction means to reduce the flow of drilling fluid and thereby signal the surface by the reduced flow as an indication of wear.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for aligning an integrated deck carried on a barge with a jacket secured to the seafloor. The apparatus comprises a plurality of cantilevered springs extending vertically downward from the deck and a plurality of sockets secured to the jacket, each socket being positioned to receive the lower end of one of the cantilevered springs. As the cantilevered springs are lowered into the sockets, wind or wave induced horizontal motion of the deck is accommodated by tilting of receiving members in the sockets. Once the cantilevered springs are fully engaged with the sockets, the receiving members no longer tilt and the great stiffness of the cantilevered springs permits only very slight horizontal motion of the deck so that the barge can be ballasted downward to transfer the deck load to the jacket without misalignment.

Abstract: A plug is disclosed for sealing off in a tubing having a sealing surface. A housing contains an annular metal seal means and two sets of segmented expanding lockdown rings that react with three solid rings to provide a downward motion. The expanding lockdown rings consist of a solid tapered ring that has been cut into a number of arcs. When a tapered mandrel is forced down inside the arcs, the arcs are expanded to the outside diameter of the mandrel. As the arcs expand, they are wedged between the solid rings that have matching tapers. The solid rings react between locking dogs and a shoulder in the housing to provide the downward movement. By using several expanding lockdown rings and solid rings, a relatively great deal of vertical motion can be obtained through the combined wedging action of each ring. Means on the housing and the tubing may be used to limit the locking load on the annular seal means.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for installing an integrated deck on a platform substructure located in a body of water. The deck is supported on jack-up means which, in turn, are mounted on a rigid pontoon raft having a U-shaped configuration. The jack-up means is capable of raising and lowering the deck to and from, respectively, the substructure and for raising the composite platform from one position and lowering it to another position offshore. The U-shaped opening in the raft is oriented so that the jack-up means on the barge straddles the substructure below the deck. Piles may be driven through the base from the raft and from the platform itself when the raft has been removed from the deck once the deck has been installed on the substructure.

Abstract: A method for determining pore-dependent properties, such as electrical conductivity and absolute permeability, of a porous sample by use of capillary pressure measurements. Capillary pressure data are obtained by performing nonwetting fluid intrusion measurements on a sample. The lowest applied pressure at which the intruding fluid forms a connected path spanning the sample (the "threshold capillary pressure") is determined. The sample's conductivity or absolute permeability, or both, may be determined in a preferred embodiment from the characteristic pore diameter corresponding to the threshold capillary pressure, an other parameters extracted from the measured capillary pressure data. The invention does not require use of any arbitrary, empirically adjustable parameter to predict conductivity or permeability. The method may be performed to characterize small samples of porous rock such as those obtained during borehold drilling operations.

Abstract: A time division multiplexing, fiber optic data gathering system, including two or more sensors formed on an optical fiber, and a phase sensitive detector. Each sensor includes two reflectors separated by a section of the fiber having length L. Each reflector may be activated so that when an interrogating light signal propagates in a first direction past the activated reflector, a portion of the interrogating light signal will be reflected back into a direction opposite the first direction. Each reflector may also be deactivated so that the interrogating signal may propagate unhindered past the deactivated reflector. Variations in the optical path length between the reflectors of a sensor, due to changes in an external parameter of interest, will cause phase modulations that are extracted in the phase sensitive detector by homodyne or heterodyne techniques.

Abstract: The invention is a multi-port, multi-chamber, tuned, air-powered subsea seismic source. It is suitable for producing a seismic wave in a subsea environment during seismic prospecting. Interconnected pressurized chambers are formed between plates located on a movable shuttle and cylinder walls extending inward from the source housing. The source is fired by moving the shuttle through a stroke and allowing the pressurized air within the air chambers to exit through ports into the surrounding water. A unique seal arrangement in also shown.