Abstract: An improved recovery process is provided for fluent petroleum in a porous formation having spaced injection means and production well recovery means which includes a concentrated brine drive and surfactant carrier system. By injecting an aqueous drive medium having gradually decreasing brine concentration, surfactant transport and petroleum recovery efficiency are improved. Advantageously, an effective aqueous surfactant composition is formulated containing a water-soluble ether-linked sulfonate surfactant, a cosurfactant alcohol, and at least one cosurfactant or sacrificial sulfonate material in a concentrated brine carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the extrusion of thermoplastic film which comprises extruding a melt of thermoplastic through an annular orifice to form a bubble or tube and while the tube is still in a semi-molten condition, passing the tube through a cooling and stabilizing means which surrounds the tube and is characterized by having a variable diameter to accommodate varying sizes of tubing.

Abstract: A liquid sampling device comprises a cylinder with a piston and a liquid outlet at its top. Liquid inlet ports are disposed at the bottom of the cylinder with one-way entry valves to admit the liquid which is to be sampled into the cylinder. The piston has by-pass ports controlled by one-way valves which permit the sampled liquid to pass upwards through the piston.The device is operated by lowering it into the liquid to be sampled by means of a line attached to a piston rod connected to the piston. The liquid is then drawn into the cylinder by means of the piston and the liquid sample removed.

Abstract: A marine compliant riser system is provided for attaching a flexible flowline to a buoyed conduit riser section. The improved system includes a releasable yoke assembly for receiving flexible flowline with a means for holding flexible flowline termination.Quick-disconnect yoke attachment means support and lock the yoke assembly onto horizontal buoy-mounted support means. A fail-safe release means is provided for pulling an unreleased yoke attachment away from the support arm in the event of an opposite end release.The system is particularly adapted for emergency disconnect of a subsea wellhead or production gathering system from a floating vessel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a frame like structure easily attachable to a check-out counter in a grocery store environment. Handle arms are hingedly attached to the structure and perpendicularly project therefrom. The arms are further provided with a resilient tubular member which allows the arm when displaced with an applied force, to be returned to the perpendicular relationship. A support post is provided to hold a complement of plastic bags to the frame for ease in dispensing and filling the bags.

Abstract: A subsea riser mainfold system is disclosed for handling marine well fluids from multiple subsea wells and transmitting the well fluids through a marine production riser. The system includes a marine floor base template having a support structure and a manifold chamber supported thereon. Pile guides are connected to the template for fixing the template to the marine floor. The sealed manifold chamber hull is mounted on the template between the pile guides, enclosing manifold means for operatively connecting the subsea wells to the production riser. An improved structural spanning support member extends over the manifold chamber hull for receiving and supporting the marine production riser. This spanning member has an upper riser-receiving platform portion and structural spider arms connected between the platform production and the pile guides through the spanning member.

Abstract: In seismic exploration windows from a pair of contiguous traces are used in a process which determines the coherent noise on a basis trace and removes this coherent noise from a prediction trace. The operator of a digital filter is determined by autocorrelating the basis trace, cross-correlating the window of the basis trace, with the window of the prediction trace, and selecting the filter operator which produces the least error between the cross-correlation function and the product of the autocorrelation function and the operator.

Abstract: A container, which is adapted for nesting together with similar containers during transport and storage thereof, comprising an exterior surface which bears printed indicia. The printed indicia is carried on one or more portions of the container that have been formed so that surfaces of such printed portions lie in a plane below the plane of the surrounding surface area. Thermoplastic foam egg cartons such as polystyrene cartons are especially suitable as containers constructed in accord with the invention.

Abstract: An improved hydrogen donor for hydrogen donor diluent cracking is provided by extraction with naphtha from the cracked product and hydrogenation by hydrogen transfer from a lower boiling hydrogen donor such as tetralin.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided to ensure uniform distribution of molten thermoplastic resin around a tubular die annulus upon extrusion of a thermoplastic tube. The apparatus comprises a first toroidal or partly toroidal (C-shaped) chamber surrounding the die into which the molten resin is fed from one side, and a plurality of openings through which the molten plastic flows from the first chamber into a second toroidal chamber, which feeds the die annulus. The cross-sectional area of each of the openings is gradually increased from a point adjacent the entry of the molten resin to a maximum feed opening cross-section at a point farthest removed from the resin entry point. This arrangement ensures a more uniform molten resin distribution around the die annulus during extrusion.

Abstract: Alpha-picolines are produced by containing aniline or substituted anilines, such as alkyl-, cyclo alkyl-, halo- ; alkoxy- or substituted alkyl-anilines with a crystalline zeolite catalyst having a silica:alumina ratio of at least 12 and a constraint index of 1 to 12. ZSM-5 type catalysts are contacted at elevated temperature to yield alpha-picolines selectively.

Abstract: A modified zeolite composition useful for the conversion of aromatic compounds to dialkylbenzene compounds rich in the 1,4-dialkylbenzene isomer. The reaction is carried out in the presence of zeolite catalyst having a silica to alumina mole ratio of at least 12 and a constraint index of about 1-12, said catalyst having been modified prior to use by treatment with compounds of germanium, tin and/or lead, and optionally phosphorus, the deposit a minor proportion of such elements on the zeolite.

Abstract: Molten thermoplastic, such as polyethylene, and a hot melt adhesive are coextruded through a channel shaped profile die. While still molten, the channel shaped strip, having adhesive between the ribs thereof, is brought into contact with a moving web of a thermoplastic, e.g. polyethylene film, which is backed up by a roll at a controlled temperature. The temperature differential between the roll and the molten thermoplastic is maintained so that the thermoplastic adheres to the moving web upon contact and thereafter cools to set the thermoplastic in the channel shaped profile. The web is under tension so that contraction of the film upon release compensates for the contraction of the channel shaped strip as it cools.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the location of the liquid level in a well or borehole. A source of acoustic pressure pulses is coupled to the surface casing so that they are transmitted down the well and reflected by the gas-liquid interface. A transducer is also coupled to the well to produce an electrical signal in response to direct and reflected acoustic pulses occurring in the well. Gating circuitry responds to the transducer for starting and stopping the counting of clock pulses by a digital counter. A digital readout device is used to indicate the depth to the liquid level in the well. The acoustic pulse source is automatically actuated at predetermined times, and the depth to the liquid level and the time are automatically recorded. This produces a record of time and liquid depth which can extend over a period of several days.

Abstract: Coal and metals-containing residual oil are coprocessed under conditions whereby the coal is volatilized and solubilized, the residual oil is demetallized and substantially no coking of the residual oil occurs. The products obtained include metals-free distillates and metals-containing solid fuel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for acoustic noise logging in a production well which includes up-hole components and down-hole components including at least two sonic detectors, the up-hole and down-hole components being linked together by a four-wire interconnecting means. In addition, the down-hole components include at least three additional parameter detectors. These additional parameter detectors may include a temperature detector, a conductivity detector and a location detector. The first of these detectors produces a frequency proportional to, for example, temperature. The second detector frequency modulates the temperature signal, for example, in response to location. The third detector amplitude modulates the signal depending on whether or not a conductivity threshold has been exceeded.The foregoing permits simultaneous monitoring of a plurality of down-hole parameters simultaneously without the necessity for multiplexing and yet employs only a four wire interconnecting means.

Abstract: A source of acoustic pressure pulses is coupled to the surface casing of a well so that they are transmitted down the well and reflected by the gas-liquid interface. A transducer is also coupled to the well to produce an electrical signal in response to direct and reflected acoustic pulses occurring in the well. Gating circuitry responds to the transducer for starting and stopping the counting of clock pulses by a digital counter. The digital count controls a pump so that the liquid level in the well is precisely controlled between desired levels.

Abstract: A support arrangement for a platform held in suspension from an offshore frame structure which provides damping between the structures in inverse proportion to the magnitude of a seismic shock. The effects of seismic shocks on the suspended platform are mitigated by providing first and second nonlinear shock absorbers coupled laterally in first and second horizontal directions between the platform and the frame structures. The first and second shock absorbers are designed to be substantially rigid to provide stiff damping for relatively low amplitude seismic forces while providing substantially softer or less rigid damping for relatively high amplitude seismic forces, such that the suspended load is able to move relatively freely in all horizontal directions when it is subjected to relatively severe seismic shocks.

Abstract: A shape-selective hydrocracking catalyst prepared by making a composite of a hydrogenation component and a natural ferrierite that has been treated with oxalic acid to impart thereto catalytic activity for converting slightly branched as well as straight chain hydrocarbons. The catalyst is useful for hydrodewaxing and for upgrading naphtha.

Abstract: A marine compliant riser system connects a subsea hydrocarbon source to a floating surface facility through a lower multi-conduit riser section to a submerged buoy section located below a turbulent water zone and a flexible flowline. Fluid connection is established between corresponding lower riser conduits and the surface facility by a plurality of flexible conduits. Connection assembly means connects individual upwardly-directed flexible conduits with corresponding upwardly-directed lower riser conduits in fluid flow relationship. A yoke assembly mounted on the buoy section, includes beam means for holding a plurality of spaced apart flexible conduit terminations, with each of the flexible conduits being connected individually in catenary arrangement between the yoke assembly and the surface facility. The flexible conduits are attached to the surface facility in compact, non-linear array and to the yoke assembly in substantially linear array.