Abstract: A device for and method of testing fluid compatibility may include placing a first fluid in a fixed-volume testing chamber and placing a second fluid in a sample chamber. The method may also include heating the fixed-volume testing chamber to about a temperature of a subterranean environment and pressurizing the fixed-volume testing chamber to about a pressure of the subterranean environment. The method may further include determining, at a temperature and pressure of about the temperature and pressure of the subterranean environment, a first rheology value of the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber, moving a portion of the second fluid from sample chamber into the fixed-volume testing chamber, and determining, at a temperature and pressure of about the temperature and pressure of the subterranean environment, a second rheology value of the fluid within the fixed-volume testing chamber.

Abstract: Cement is conditioned, cured and/or tested while applying a specified temperature and/or pressure. In certain embodiments, the specified temperature and/or pressure applied during the testing substantially simulates anticipated static downhole conditions the cement will be subjected to in use. In certain embodiments, the specified temperature and/or pressure applied during the receiving substantially simulates pumping placement conditions the cement will be subjected to in use. In certain embodiments, the cement can be conditioned in a conditioning vessel while applying specified temperature and/or pressure to the cement. In certain embodiments, the temperature and/or pressure applied in the conditioning substantially simulates anticipated pumping placement conditions the cement will be subjected to in use.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of transforming grapevine. The methods involve the culturing of grapevine explant to induce shoot formation having meristematic regions and transforming meristematic tissue using Agrobacterium or particle bombardment.

Abstract: A mechanical seal includes a pair of opposing seal faces, wherein at least one of the pair of seal faces comprises a multilayer coating disposed on a substrate, and wherein the multilayer coating comprises a periodic repetition of distinct layers. In another embodiment, the mechanical seal includes a pair of opposing seal faces, wherein at least one of the pair of seal faces comprises a multilayer coating disposed on a substrate, wherein the multilayer coating comprises a plurality of layers of a composite, and wherein no two adjacent layers of the composite comprise an identical ratio of composite constituents. A method includes disposing a multilayer coating on a substrate to form at least one of a pair of opposing seal faces of a mechanical seal.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods that comprise: providing a foamed cement composition that comprises a hydraulic cement, water, a gas, a foaming and stabilizing surfactant, and a fluid loss control additive comprising a copolymer; placing the foamed cement composition in a location to be cemented; and allowing the foamed cement composition to set.

Abstract: A wear resistant coating including a hard backing including a metal alloy matrix dispersed with a plurality of hard particles; and a plurality of nano-layers disposed on the hard backing is provided. The plurality of nano-layers has different characteristics from one another. A method of making a wear resistant coating is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a substrate; disposing a hard backing; and disposing a plurality of nano-layers on the hard backing.

Abstract: Erosion resistant coating processes and material improvements for line-of-sight applications. The erosion resistant coating composition includes nanostructured grains of tungsten carbide (WC) and/or submicron sized grains of WC embedded into a cobalt chromium (CoCr) binder matrix. A high velocity air fuel thermal spray process (HVAF) is used to create thick coatings in excess of about 500 microns with high percentages of primary carbide for longer life better erosion resistant coatings. These materials and processes are especially suited for hydroelectric turbine components.

Abstract: Methods for coating a substrate, such as a turbine engine component, are presented. In one method a preform comprising braze alloy and wear-resistant particles is attached to the substrate. The preform is then bonded to the substrate to form the wear-resistant coating. Other embodiments include articles, such as components for gas turbine engines, comprising a wear-resistant coating disposed on a substrate, the wear-resistant coating comprising wear-resistant particles in a braze alloy matrix.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining suitable displacement fluids for use in subterranean formations are provided. One example of a method is a method for identifying an inverter fluid to use for inverting an oleaginous-external/aqueous-internal fluid in a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Well completion spacer fluids containing fibers and methods of using the spacer fluids are provided. A method of the invention for displacing a first fluid from a well bore with an incompatible second fluid comprises the following steps. A spacer fluid is placed between the first and second fluids to separate the first and second fluids and to remove the first fluid from the walls of the well bore. Thereafter, the first fluid and the spacer fluid are displaced from the well bore with the second fluid. The spacer fluid comprises water, a weighting material, a dispersing agent, a suspending agent and friction reducer and fibers. The spacer fluid containing the components mentioned above is preferably also foamed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to bidirectional promoter complexes that are effective for enhancing transcriptional activity of transgenes. The bidirectional promoters of the invention include a modified enhancer region with at least two core promoters on either side of the modified enhancer in a divergent orientation.

Abstract: A test cell for testing a sample cement composition includes a test chamber and a variable stress system. The test chamber is configured to hold a sample cement composition for a wellbore. The variable stress system communicates with the test chamber. Performance of the sample cement composition is tested for a wellbore using the variable stress system.

Abstract: A method for mitigating crack initiation and propagation on a surface of a metal component due to susceptibility to corrosion comprises depositing a metallic material on the surface of the component to form a coating, and then converting at least an outer layer of the coating to an electrically insulating material. The deposition of the metallic material is carried out by a method selected from the group consisting of wire-arc spraying, physical vapor deposition, and chemical vapor deposition. Electrochemical corrosion potential less than ?0.23 VSHE based on the standard hydrogen electrode can be achieved with the method of coating of the present invention. This method is applied to produce coated structural components of water-cooled nuclear reactor.

Abstract: Cement compositions, that comprise water, a cement, a strength-retrogression additive, and an acid, wherein the acid comprises ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, or a combination thereof, are provided. Methods of cementing in a subterranean formation, methods of retarding the set time of a cement composition, and set retarder compositions also are provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining suitable displacement fluids for use in subterranean cementing operations, and methods of cementing that use such displacement fluids, are provided. Examples of methods include methods of water-wetting an annulus in a subterranean formation having an oleaginous-external/aqueous-internal fluid disposed on at least a portion of one or more surfaces of the annulus. Another example of a method is a method of using an inverter fluid in a subterranean formation that includes a tubular string disposed therein having an annular region adjacent the outer surface of the tubular string, at least part of the annular region having an oleaginous-external/aqueous-internal fluid on a surface thereof. Another example of a method of the present invention is a method of identifying an inverter fluid to use for inverting an oleaginous-external/aqueous-internal fluid in a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining suitable displacement fluids for use in subterranean cementing operations, and methods of cementing that use such displacement fluids, are provided. Examples of apparatus include apparatus for evaluating fluids. An example of a system is a system for inverting an oleaginous-external/aqueous-internal fluid in a well bore in a subterranean formation.

Abstract: The invention features a method of producing a grape somatic embryo having resistance to a plant pathogen, the method including the steps of (a) culturing a grape somatic embryo in a first liquid culture medium that includes a plant growth regulator and a phytotoxin from a plant pathogen; (b) exchanging the first liquid culture medium for a second liquid culture medium not including the phytotoxin; (c) recovering a living grape cell or grape cell cluster from the second liquid culture, the living cell or cell cluster being resistant to the pathogen; and (d) culturing the grape cell or grape cell cluster in a third culture medium to produce a grape somatic embryo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to foamed cement slurries, additives and methods. A foamed cement slurry of the invention comprises a hydraulic cement, sufficient water to form a slurry, sufficient gas to form a foam and an environmentally benign foaming and stabilizing additive comprising a mixture of an ammonium salt of an alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, a cocoamidopropyl hydroxysultaine surfactant, a cocoamidopropyl dimethylamine oxide surfactant, sodium chloride and water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cementing operations and, more particularly, to foamed cement compositions, foaming and stabilizing additives, and associated methods. A foaming and stabilizing additive, that comprises a mixture of an alkali salt of an alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, wherein the alkali salt of the alkyl ether sulfate surfactant comprises a mixture of an alkali salt of a C6-10 alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, and an alkali salt of a C2-4 alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, an alkyl or alkene amidopropyl betaine surfactant, an alkyl or alkene amidopropyl dimethylamine oxide surfactant, sodium chloride, and water, is provided. Also provided are foamed cement compositions that comprise the foaming and stabilizing additive, and associated methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to foamed cement slurries, additives and methods. A foamed cement slurry of the invention comprises a hydraulic cement, sufficient water to form a slurry, sufficient gas to form a foam and an environmentally benign foaming and stabilizing additive comprising a mixture of an ammonium salt of an alkyl ether sulfate surfactant, a cocoamidopropyl betaine surfactant, a cocoamidopropyl dimethylamine oxide surfactant, sodium chloride and water.