Abstract: Route planning for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. A map of a region is partitioned into geographic cells, data about flight conditions in each cell is aggregated, and a cost for each cell is calculated based on weighted flight condition factors. A plurality of flight paths from a first point to a second point are determined, and a cost for each flight path is determined by summing the cost of each cell traversed by the flight path. An optimal flight path is selected from the plurality of flight paths in dependence upon the total cost of each flight path. When new information is obtained that affects the cost of the cells the flight path, the cost of the current flight path is recalculated along with the costs of alternative flight paths to determine whether a route should be altered.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for providing malware protection on a UAV are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method of providing malware protection on a UAV includes a malware defense controller initiating, on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in response to a malware defense event, a malware defense scan of at least one file stored on the UAV. In this embodiment, the malware defense controller also implements, in dependence upon a result of a malware detection analysis, a malware defense operation.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, coordinating an aerial search among unmanned aerial vehicles is disclosed that includes receiving, by a server in a UAV transportation ecosystem, search area data, accessing, by the server, UAV parameters for a type of UAV, determining, by the server in dependence upon the search area data and the UAV parameters, a number of UAVs needed to complete a coordinated aerial search of a search area within a time limit, and partitioning, by the server, the search area into a plurality of partitions, wherein the number of partitions is equal to the number of UAVs.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for fulfilling a request associated with operational aspects of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mission are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, fulfilling a request associated with operational aspects of a UAV mission includes a fulfillment controller presenting to a first set of providers of a plurality of providers, a request for offers to perform a first set of operational aspects of a UAV mission. In this embodiment, the fulfillment controller also includes receiving from each provider of a second set of providers of the plurality of providers, an offer to perform a second set of operational aspects of the first set of operational aspects of the UAV mission. In addition, the fulfillment controller also selects from a first set of offers received from the second set of providers, a first offer to accept.

Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products for automated preflight evaluation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configuration are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, automated preflight evaluation of an UAV configuration includes a preflight controller retrieving information about a UAV configuration selected to perform a mission in accordance with one or more mission parameters. In this embodiment, the preflight controller uses the retrieved information to assess an ability of the UAV configuration to perform the mission in accordance with the one or more mission parameters.

Abstract: Methods for cost effectively transforming lower quality silica sands into higher quality silica sands for use as proppants in fracking operations involving subterranean hydrocarbon formations. A process of exposing silica sand proppants to locally-sourced electromagnetic radiation, and systems therefor, are disclosed and shown to increase the performance of those silica sands as proppants in hydrocarbon formation fracturing operations.

Abstract: Methods for cost effectively transforming lower quality silica sands into higher quality silica sands having increased crush resistance for use as proppants in fracturing operations involving subterranean hydrocarbon formations. One or more of an attrition process, a microwaving process and a tumbling process are disclosed and shown to be applied to silica sands having inferior physical properties in order to increase the performance of those silica sands as proppants in hydrocarbon formation fracturing operations.

Abstract: Methods for cost effectively transforming lower quality silica sands into higher quality silica sands for use as proppants in fracking operations involving subterranean hydrocarbon formations. A process of exposing silica sand proppants to locally-sourced electromagnetic radiation, and systems therefor, are disclosed and shown to increase the performance of those silica sands as proppants in hydrocarbon formation fracturing operations.

Abstract: Methods for cost effectively transforming lower quality silica sands into higher quality silica sands for use as proppants in fracking operations involving subterranean hydrocarbon formations. A process of exposing silica sand proppants to locally-sourced electromagnetic radiation, and systems therefor, are disclosed and shown to increase the performance of those silica sands as proppants in hydrocarbon formation fracturing operations.

Abstract: Methods for cost effectively transforming lower quality silica sands into higher quality silica sands having increased crush resistance for use as proppants in fracturing operations involving subterranean hydrocarbon formations. One or more of an attrition process, a microwaving process and a tumbling process are disclosed and shown to be applied to silica sands having inferior physical properties in order to increase the performance of those silica sands as proppants in hydrocarbon formation fracturing operations.

Abstract: Methods and systems for cost effectively transforming lower quality sands into higher quality sands for use as proppants in fracking operations. One or more of an attrition process, a microwaving process and a tumbling process, and systems therefor, are disclosed and shown to be applied to sands having inferior physical properties in order to increase the performance of those sands as proppants in hydrocarbon formation fracturing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for cost effectively transforming lower quality sands into higher quality sands for use as proppants in fracking operations. One or more of an attrition process, a microwaving process and a tumbling process, and systems therefor, are disclosed and shown to be applied to sands having inferior physical properties in order to increase the performance of those sands as proppants in hydrocarbon formation fracturing.

Abstract: Low density water soluble ball sealers having a water soluble polymer phase, with one or more microspheres residing within the polymer phase, with these ball sealers suitable for use in well operations for sealing perforations in subterranean formations.

Abstract: A meta crosslinked polar benzyl polymer is made by combining a transition metal crosslinker, or one or more source compounds capable of reacting to form such a transition metal crosslinker, with a polar benzyl polymer which has been activated for meta crosslinking.

Abstract: A high strength composite particle comprised of a series of incrementally applied resin microlayer coatings such that each of the microlayer partial coatings are interleaved with each other is described. Methods of making the composite particles, as well as methods of using such particles as a proppant in oil and gas well hydraulic fracturing are also described.

Abstract: A meta crosslinked polar benzyl polymer is made by combining a transition metal crosslinker, or one or more source compounds capable of reacting to form such a transition metal crosslinker, with a polar benzyl polymer which has been activated for meta crosslinking

Abstract: Described is an oil-degradable ball sealer for use in the oil and gas industry. The ball seal comprises a particular composition including ethylene and one or more alpha-olefins, prepared by an injection molding technique to provide a ball sealer which will dissolve in stimulation or wellbore fluids after stimulation operations are complete. The composition, when dissolved into wellbore fluids, does not pose a hazard or problem to aqueous wellbore fluids or further wellbore stimulations.

Abstract: A new proppant comprises a proppant particle substrate, a water-soluble external coating on the proppant particle substrate and a microparticulate reinforcing and spacing agent at least partially embedded in the water-soluble external coating in a manner such that the microparticulate reinforcing agent is substantially released from the proppant particle substrate when the water-soluble coating dissolves or degrades.

Abstract: A new proppant comprises a proppant particle substrate, a water-soluble external coating on the proppant particle substrate and a microparticulate reinforcing and spacing agent at least partially embedded in the water-soluble external coating in a manner such that the microparticulate reinforcing agent is substantially released from the proppant particle substrate when the water-soluble coating dissolves or degrades.

Abstract: Described is an oil-degradable ball sealer for use in the oil and gas industry. The ball seal comprises a particular composition including ethylene and one or more alpha-olefins, prepared by an injection molding technique to provide a ball sealer which will dissolve in stimulation or wellbore fluids after stimulation operations are complete. The composition, when dissolved into wellbore fluids, does not pose a hazard or problem to aqueous wellbore fluids or further wellbore stimulations.