Abstract: Casing assemblies and methods of using the casing assemblies to isolate selected sections of a subterranean wellbore are provided. Also provided are methods of fabricating the casing assemblies. The casing assemblies comprise one or more water-swellable tubular collars disposed around the exterior surface of a conduit, such as a wellbore casing. The water-swellable collars are formed from a material comprising sodium bentonite, a swelling inhibitor and reinforcing fibers.

Abstract: Casing assemblies and methods of using the casing assemblies to isolate selected sections of a subterranean wellbore are provided. Also provided are methods of fabricating the casing assemblies. The casing assemblies comprise one or more water-swellable tubular collars disposed around the exterior surface of a conduit, such as a wellbore casing. The water-swellable collars are formed from a material comprising sodium bentonite, a swelling inhibitor and reinforcing fibers.

Abstract: A method for imposing and rendering image data. The method formatting the image data for a surface of a media sheet in an output device space and including receiving one or more page description files defining one or more objects to be located on the surface of the media sheet, receiving a job ticket defining a layout of the objects on the surface in a sheet-defined space. Prior to ripping, the layout of the objects is transformed into output device space including rotation or translation of the objects. The objects are ripped creating raster data that is oriented in output device space. The raster data is blitted in blocks without shifting the raster data.

Abstract: A method for measuring hydraulic conductivity of geological samples using a closed volume pumping system that ensures constant volume of test liquid within the sample and a shaped tube of mercury to provide a constant pressure difference across the sample to eliminate second order influences on the hydraulic conductivity measurement and to speed measurement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rendering one or more page description language descriptions of pages to be printed by a printing device on a sheet. The apparatus includes an assembler, an interpreter and a rendering engine. The assembler receives as an input a job ticket including layout and page identifier information. The assembler operates to generate an ordered list of objects to be printed by the printing device on the sheet. The interpreter receives the page description language input and the ordered list and generates display list objects for each object in the ordered list. The display list objects may be stored in a display list memory. The rendering engine receives the display list objects renders the objects. The rendered objects may be printed by a print engine onto the sheet.

Abstract: A method of processing page description data for printing on a printing device having a print engine for printing on an output media. The method includes receiving page description data comprising objects to be placed on the output media where each object has a position on the output media. An area to be printed on the output media is divided into a first and subsequent bands. The objects are interpreted one object at a time to produce display list data. When all objects that intersect the first band have been interpreted, display list data for the first band is rendered without regard to whether objects or portions of objects in subsequent bands have been interpreted.