Abstract: An electrode insulated from and mounted to the outside of a drill collar in a drill string positioned in a borehole is used for measuring formation spontaneous potential. A current measuring device, such as an ammeter, is connected through a varible ammeter resistor and a switch between the electrode and the drill collar. The ammeter measures current flow from the formation along the walls of the borehole to the drill string to determine the spontaneous potential of the formation at various points along the borehole while it is being drilled. The switch in the ammeter circuit is interrupted at a pre-selected rate and the ammeter current signal is connected through a lock-in amplifier to cancel random noise in the signal and produce an accurate measurement of the very small currents flowing between the electrode and the drill collar. The currents are indicative of spontaneous potentials in the formation.

Abstract: A liquid polymer containing composition, useful as a thickening agent for aqueous systems, containing hydroxyethyl cellulose, a hydrophobic liquid medium in which the hydroxyethyl cellulose is substantially non-swellable and a gelling agent for thickening the hydrophobic liquid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compensator applicable for use with a traveling block supported from a mast, derrick or the like by means of a crown block wherein the traveling block may be utilized for supporting objects. Two fluid pressure piston-and-cylinder assemblies are arrayed on opposite sides of a line of travel of the traveling block relative to the crown block so that a flexible line positioned about the sheaves of both blocks passes over a pulley supported by one fluid pressure assembly to one side of the line of travel and, on the other side, the flexible line passes over a pulley supported by the other fluid pressure assembly. One end of the flexible line may be anchored relative to the mast as a deadline while the line at its other end may be selectively retracted or payed out by a drawworks or the like fixed relative to the mast. The crown block is supported by flexible lines passing over pulleys also supported by the fluid pressure assemblies.

Abstract: Calibration apparatus includes a fluid pressure system comprising a first gauge, a regulator and a second gauge in series. The calibration system is positioned in the general vicinity of one or more environment control system components to be calibrated, and the calibration fluid pressure system is connected in series in the control line between the thermostat, for example, and the components to be calibrated. The first gauge, toward the thermostat, monitors the fluid pressure provided in the control line from the thermostat and the second gauge, toward the components to be calibrated, monitors the fluid pressure provided to the components during the calibration process. The regulator may be adjusted to achieve selected pressures applied to the components which may then be adjusted to actuate at the desired pressures.

Abstract: A materials handling and weighing apparatus having a platform movable in a rectangular motion for transferring a work piece in stepwise fashion along a conveying path, the apparatus having a work piece escapement mechanism whereby work pieces are sequenced onto the movable platform one at a time without interference from a succeeding work piece, the weighing apparatus employing load detecting cells upon which the work piece is deposited during a cycle of the movable platform.

Abstract: The invention comprises an improved override and an interrelated valve system. A main valve has an actuator, the actuator in turn having a control for communicating a control signal to the actuator for selectively causing the actuator to place the main valve in its open or closed position. The override is associated with the main valve and selectively shiftable between an engaged mode in which the override is operatively connected with the main valve for moving the main valve between its open and closed positions, and a disengaged mode in which the operative connection between the override and the main valve is interrupted, whereby the main valve may move independently of the override. A shut-off functionally interconnects the override and the actuator control and is operative, upon shifting of the override to its engaged mode, to block the control signal from the actuator.

Abstract: A process for the vapor phase production of alumina by introducing steam into the vapor space above a heated, liquid phase aluminum alkoxide in which the aluminum alkoxide is hydrolyzed in a heated reaction zone downstream from the liquid alkoxide and collected as a dry powder without the necessity for utilizing conventional drying processes.

Abstract: An improved chuck assembly for a lathe comprises a housing member serving as a base, first holding means movably connected to the base for selectively radially gripping the side surface of a workpiece, and second holding means connected to the base for axially engaging an end surface of such workpiece. The second holding means is located generally centrally of the first holding means, the first holding means being movable both radially and longitudinally to clear the end of the workpiece without removal of the chuck.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for restricting the relative movement of the separated sections of an initially unitary body. The present invention is particularly useful in a device and method for restraining or restricting the initial movement of the upper portion of a tree, post or similar body to two degrees of freedom immediately after it has been severed from the remaining stationary portion of the body. A device in accord with the present invention comprises first and second rigid members pivotally joined or hinged together. The device further comprises a plurality of contact surfaces or feet for contacting the limb wherein the contact surfaces are displaced from the rigid members. Finally, the device comprises devices for attaching the rigid members to the limb both above and below the proposed point of severance. Most preferably, the attachment devices are adjustable to permit attachment to a limb having a variety of shapes.

Abstract: A liquid, polymer-containing composition for viscosifying oilfield brines comprising an oil base liquid, an effective, gelling amount of a gelling agent which is an aluminum phosphate compound and hydroxyethyl cellulose, the compositions preferably containing, in addition, a surfactant to retard settling and hard packing of the hydroxyethyl cellulose.

Abstract: A control valve system and method are disclosed for blowout preventers having an actuating piston for actuating the closing of the blowout preventer whereby the piston has an opening side and a closing side. The control valve system and method include a means for selectively directing fluid from the opening side of the actuating piston to the closing side of the actuating piston in order to reduce the fluid requirements for closing the blowout preventer and reduce installed horsepower requirements thereby.

Abstract: A defoaming composition comprising an organo siloxane polymer, an aliphatic alcohol such as 2-ethylhexanol and, optionally, a liquid carrier which can be added to a coking drum in a delayed coking process to reduce foaming. In cases where the feed stock used in the delayed coking process contains greater than one half percent total sulfur, defoaming in the coking drum can be accomplished by adding an aliphatic alcohol such as 2-ethylhexanol.

Abstract: A construction component has a plurality of male and female lock assemblies for engagement with female and male lock assemblies of a similar construction component for locking the two components together. The male lock assemblies are arranged in vertical tandem pairs, as are the female lock assemblies. Each of the male lock assemblies includes a rigid pin which is reciprocable with respect to the component between an advanced position and a retracted position. Each female lock assembly defines a socket opening and includes a transversely reciprocable lock for locking a pin in the socket opening. The male lock assembly includes a similar transversely reciprocable lock adapted to lock the pin in at least one of, and preferably both of, its two positions. The locks of each tandem pair of assemblies are connected for joint movement and are adapted so that, when lowered, the lower lock engages its respective pin before the upper lock engages its pin.

Abstract: Proper alignment of threads when joints of casing are made up in hostile environments, such as on off-shore floating platforms subject to being buffeted by wave action, is provided by means of an improved box and pin connector. The pin has a substantially tapered threaded section whose small diameter end terminates in a lower guide section and whose large diameter is adjacent a larger diameter upper guide section. The box has a complementary section of internal oppositely tapered threads to mate with those on the pin as well as a smaller lower receptacle to receive the lower guide section on the pin and a larger receptacle to receive the upper guide section on the pin. In another version, both sets of threads are straight. The upper and lower guide sections on the pin and complementary receptacles in the box are mutually, partially engaged prior to engagement of the threads to guide the threads into proper alignment.

Abstract: In order to provide a reliable test for the presence of native hydrocarbons down a borehole during drilling with an oil-base drilling mud, a sample of the rock cuttings brought up from the vicinity of the drill bit by the circulating mud flow is collected, the sample or a fluid prepared from the sample is then placed in a spectrometer and is excited with electromagnetic radiation of one or more wavelengths. The radiation absorbed and/or emitted by the excited sample or sample preparation is sensed, and a plot is produced of the excitation and/or emission wavelengths against intensity, or in certain circumstances of the emission wavelengths against the excitation wavelengths. It can then be determined from the characteristic profile so obtained whether the hydrocarbon content of the sample incorporates only the oil base of the drilling mud or a combination of this oil-base and native hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for holding one or more test electrodes of precisely known exposed surface area. The present invention is particularly useful in a device for determining the corrosion properties of the materials from which the test electrodes have been formed. The present invention relates to a device and method for holding the described electrodes wherein the exposed surface area of the electrodes is only infinitesimally decreased. Further, in the present invention the exposed, electrically conductive surface area of the contact devices is small relative to the test electrode surface area. The holder of the present invention conveniently comprises a device for contacting and engaging each test electrode at two point contacts infinitesimally small in relation to the exposed surface area of the electrodes.

Abstract: Connectors for electrically coupling conductors wherein the connection is effected by current coupling are disclosed. Each connector includes a toroidal coil and a housing member. The connection is accomplished by aligning the toroidal coils generally parallel and closing the housing members to provide a generally toroidal conductive path enclosing the paired coils. Cable segments extending along tubular members may end in electrical connectors at both ends of the tubular members so that a pipe string may be assembled to include a sequence of cable segments interconnected by current coupling transformers.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of mounting a cutter, having a stud portion defining one end thereof and a cutting formation generally adjacent the other end, in a pocket in a drill bit body member. The method includes the steps of forming a channel extending into the pocket, inserting brazing material into the channel, inserting the stud portion of the cutter assembly into the pocket, then heating the bit body member to cause the brazing material to flow through the channel into the pocket, and finally re-cooling the bit body member. During the assembly of the various pieces required in the steps mentioned immediately above, a spring is used, cooperative between the cutter and the bit body member, to retain the stud portion in the pocket and also to displace the stud portion toward the trailing side of the pocket.

Abstract: An annular blowout preventer for use on an oil or gas well rig having a lower housing, an upper housing, a resilient sealing means, a vertical bore coaxially positioned through the housing and a vertically acting piston for actuating the sealing means in which the inner surface of the upper housing and the inner surface of the lower housing are concentric spherical surfaces extending to the bore. The resilient sealing means includes steel segments extending between the top and bottom of the sealing means and the top and bottom of the sealing means and the steel segments have spherical surfaces coacting with the spherical surfaces on the upper and lower housings. The upper and lower housings each include a vertical wall extending downwardly from the spherical surfaces on the upper and lower housing and the vertical moving piston sealingly engages the vertical walls.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for determining the stress at the borehole boundary at a selected location within a borehole. The present invention comprises a method for determining the stress employing a plurality of mechanical properties of the formation, e.g., Poisson's Ratio, the rock strength properties and the elastic modulus, together with the measured deformation of the deformed borehole at the selected location. The method comprises measuring at the selected location a plurality of parameters indicative of the formation at that location and from which a plurality of mechanical properties of the formation, e.g., the rock strength properties, the elastic modulus and Poisson's Ratio are determinable, calipering the borehole at the selected location to determine the deformation of the deformed borehole and determining the stress at the borehole boundary at the selected location employing the information obtained by measuring and calipering.