Abstract: A method and an apparatus capable of measuring the density of steam within a steam pipe even in limited environmental conditions such as in a steam injection well. A vessel which accommodates therein first and second neutron detectors disposed in mutual longitudinal alignment with a neutron source interposed therebetween and in which the second detector is covered with a neutron shield capable of absorbing thermal neutrons while allowing epithermal neutrons to penetrate therethrough is inserted into the steam pipe together with a thermal neutron shielding sheet completely encircling the vessel. From the neutrons which were emitted from the neutron source and passed out and back through the neutron shield and the steam region, those epithermal neutrons which have not undergone transformation to thermal neutrons within the steam region are detected by both the first and second detectors, while the thermal neutrons resulting from the transformation are detected by the first detector only.

Abstract: In an automatic analyzer of samples, the liquid specimen and the reagent are mixed in a reaction container to react. If, however, there is a bubble in the reagent container, a accurate amount of a reagent may not be dispensed. Accordingly, a liquid surface detecting circuit for detecting the liquid surface on the basis of the impedance change between a pipet and a ground is disposed, and the height of the liquid surface before and after suction of the reagent is compared on the basis of the liquid surface detecting information, and the bubble is detected when the difference is more than a specified value, and accordingly the driving circuit of the driving source is controlled by the control circuit. Thus, when dispensing the reagent in the reagent container by a pipet, the bubble can be detected securely and accurately, and this apparatus may be used in a slender reagent container.

Abstract: A method to determine the amount of blast furnace slag in a slurry sample. The slurry is preferably a drilling fluid or a wellbore cement slurry. The method comprises correlating the amount of hydrogen sulfide released from acidified slurries with the amount of blast furnace slag in the slurry and acidifying the sample and determining the amount of hydrogen sulfide released from the acidified sample.

Abstract: A process for quantitatively and qualitatively substantially continuously analyzing the aroma emitted and rates of emission of the components thereof:(I) from within the pit section and/or the inner wood section; and(II) the outer bark surface ofa living tree, simultaneously, and optionally from within and from the outer surface of one or more fruits borne by said living tree using simultaneously operating aroma trapping devices connected to the outer tree trunk surface and an inner location within the tree and, if desired, connected to the fruit surface and an internal location within the fruit. Also described is apparatus for carrying out such a process. The living tree, for example, may be a living Douglas Fir or a living Maple Tree or a living Papaya Tree or a living Mahogany Tree or a living Nectarine Tree.