Abstract: There is disclosed a container that is useful as a sterilization chest for surgeons' instruments and the like. The container includes a generally open-top box having a peripheral flange about its top edge and an open channel extending along at least two of the opposite sides of the box in the peripheral flange. A flexible membrane cover is provided which overlies the top of the box and the peripheral flange and this membrane is reinforced with a plurality of stiffening members which are supported on the undersurface of the flexible membrane cover in a side-to-side array. These stiffening members have distal, downwardly dependent lips which are received in the open channel grooves in the peripheral flange whereby the stiffening members reinforce both the flexible cover and the upper sidewalls of the box, preventing collapse of these elements when the chamber within the chest is evacuated.

Abstract: This is an improved blast joint for subterranean wells which is ideally suited for applications where corrosive compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are encountered. The blast joint comprises a plurality of temperature and corrosion resistant hard rings which are in a stacked end face-to-face array, coaxially carried on a length of tubing. The rings are resiliently compressed in the array by spring washers interspaced by flat washers and this assembly is retained by end collars distally carried on the tubing. The end collars which are employed in this invention have a collet type construction; each collar comprising a clamp ring slidably received over the end of the production tubing, having an internally threaded outer end and a tapered inside wall. A collet sleeve with a tapered outside wall is received in the clamp ring.

Abstract: A method of acidizing and/or fracturing a subterranean reservoir with a minimum of damage to the reservoir by the displacement fluid used to displace the acidizing or fracturing fluid into the reservoir and by the fluid used to kill the well wherein a restriction means having a seat for a closure means is located in a well conduit above a point of fluid entry into the reservoir, a slug of acidizing and/or fracturing fluid is injected into the reservoir, a slug of displacement fluid containing the closure means is injected down the well conduit, and a slug of weighted kill fluid is injected down the well conduit, said injection continuing until the closure means seats in the seat.

Abstract: An improved gravel-packing tool assembly with a baffled stinger pipe for gravel-packing a perforate liner having substantially the same internal diameter as the casing string extending from the perforate liner to the earth surface. A perforate nipple and a swab cup are provided between the check valve and the baffled stinger pipe of the tool assembly to allow drainage of the annulus above the tool assembly through the stinger pipe to thereby avoid swabbing the well as the tool is retrieved from the well.

Abstract: A stable, non-aqueous acid emulsion composition comprising an admixture of a substantially anhydrous polyphosphoric acid-based mixture, an organic solvent, and a surfactant; and a method for increasing the permeability of siliceous subterranean geological formations.

Abstract: An acid composition comprising a substantially anhydrous liquid mixture of (1) about 50 to 99 weight percent of polyphosphoric acid having about 5 to 90 weight percent of the total P.sub.2 O.sub.5 present as polymeric P.sub.2 O.sub.5, and (2) about 1 to 25 weight percent of hydrofluoric acid, and in which the H.sub.2 O/P.sub.2 O.sub.5 mole ratio of the overall acid mixture is less than 3.4; and a method for increasing the permeability of siliceous subterranean formations in which the formation is treated with this composition. Also, the composition can optionally contain a catalyst such as a strong mineral acid, a carboxylic acid, an oxidizing agent, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method and solvent composition for removing viscous crude oil, waxes, asphaltenes and resin precipitates of petroleum origin from oil wells, flow lines and pore spaces of oil-bearing formations. The solvent composition is a mixture of about 45 to about 85 volume percent of a nornally liquid aliphatic hydrocarbon boiling in the range of about 120.degree. F. to about 550.degree. F., between about 5 to 45 volume percent of a normally liquid aromatic hydrocarbon, between about 0.5 to about 6 volume percent of an ether of an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol, and between about 1 to about 15 volume percent of a lower alkyl monohydric alcohol.

Abstract: A method and solvent composition for removing viscous crude oil, waxes, asphaltenes and resin precipitates of petroleum origin from oil wells, flow lines and pore spaces of oil-bearing formations. The solvent composition is a mixture of about 45 to about 85 volume percent of a normally liquid aliphatic hydrocarbon boiling in the range of about 120.degree. F. to about 550.degree. F., between about 5 to 45 volume percent of a normally liquid aromatic hydrocarbon, between about 0.5 to about 6 volume percent of an ether of an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol, and between about 1 to about 15 volume percent of a lower alkyl monohydric alcohol.

Abstract: A process using discrete solid particles of polyvinyl acetate as diverting agents in acid treating subterranean geological formations penetrated by a well.

Abstract: A method for protecting a stationary rigid pile extending through a layer of mud susceptible to movement and imbedded in an underlying competent bottom from the forces which the mud can exert against the pile. Fluid is ejected outwardly from the interior of the pile through a plurality of orifices into the mud adjacent to the pile. The ejected fluid increases the fluid content of the adjacent mud and thereby reduces the forces which the mud can exert on the pile.