Abstract: A sheet of high strength graphite material is bent into an arcuate shape, and the bent sheet is retained in that shape for use in a high temperature furnace. The bent sheet is rigid and can replace prior art machined blocks of lower strength graphite in a furnace. The bent sheet can also be further machined and/or further deformed into other shapes.

Abstract: Compositions comprising (a) a surfactant and (b) a diluent oil are employed in oil-based drilling fluids and processes for cleaning oil-contaminated substrates (e.g., oil-contaminated animals, drill cuttings) as well as in processes for cementing well casings, enhanced oil recovery, and lifting oil from wellbores.

Abstract: A butt welded and lined flange connector allows the joining of pipe sections lined with a brittle material. Spacing and a sleeved liner at the weld end protects the liner during butt welding. A conventional flange face gasket is modified to protrude into the lined zone to perform a dual sealing function. Like conventional flanged joints, the modified gasket forms a seal sandwiched between the flange interface surfaces. However, departing from current practice, the single gasket also fills the gap and seals the liner edges, protecting the pipe sections from the flowing materials. The invention avoids separate putty-like or elastomeric liner seals as well as exotic liner surface configurations. The present invention is expected to be tolerant of severe conditions and cost effective in many applications.

Abstract: An elongated housing having opposite ends is embedded in the sea floor. One end extends downwardly a substantial distance into the sea floor and the other end terminates adjacent the surface of the sea floor. The housing has an axially, vertically extending passageway therethrough. A tension member is located in the passageway and has one end connected to a lower portion of the housing and an upper end for connection to a floating vessel. Advantageously, means are provided for ensuring that substantially any vertical load transmitted to the tension member is transmitted to a lower portion of the elongated housing. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, means are provided for ensuring that any horizontal force components are transmitted to an upper portion of the elongated housing.