Patents Represented by Attorney C. A. Huggett
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Patent number: 4114435Abstract: In a well drilling system, a drill bit is raised or lowered through formations surrounding a borehole in a response to the movement of a cable onto and off the drawworks drum. Prior to drilling operations, the drilling system is calibrated by lowering the traveling block to its lowest position above the rig floor. At this position, the distance from a predetermined reference point to the traveling block is measured as is the rotational position of the drawworks drum. Cabling is then taken into the drum until one full layering of cable is wound onto the drum. At this time, the distance from the fixed reference point to the new position of the traveling block is measured as is the amount of rotation of the drum required to move the traveling block to this position.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1977Date of Patent: September 19, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventors: Bobbie J. Patton, James H. Sexton, Wilton Gravley, C. Mackay Foster, Jr.
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Patent number: 4113632Abstract: Waterflooding process for the recovery of oil from a subterranean oil reservoir which involves the injection into the reservoir of an aqueous solution of an aliphatic substituted succinimido aryl hydroxy sulfonate or its corresponding succinamic acid derivative. This surfactant functions to reduce the oil-water interfacial tension and also functions in the presence of divalent metal ions, such as calcium or magnesium, as a thickening agent to increase the viscosity of the injected water. In carrying out the invention in oil reservoirs in which the connate waters exhibit a divalent metal ion concentration of at least 0.2 weight percent, the surfactant may be injected in a relatively fresh water which exhibits a divalent metal ion concentration less than that of the reservoir water. Thus as the surfactant solution mixes with the reservoir water, the divalent metal ion concentration of the solution is increased with an attendant increase in its viscosity.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1977Date of Patent: September 12, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventors: Stamoulis Stournas, El Ahmadi I. Heiba
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Patent number: 4109721Abstract: This specification discloses a hydraulic fracturing process for forming and propping a vertical fracture in a subterranean formation. This method is particularly applicable for large fracture treatments where fracturing fluids with little or no fluid loss additives are employed to extend long vertical fractures into the formation. It is also particularly applicable for refracturing a formation that has previously been fractured and propped with a proppant pack along the lower portion of the fracture. After a first proppant pack is deposited in the lower portion of the fracture, a slug of fracturing fluid liquid containing fluid loss additives is injected into the formation to deposit the fluid loss additives along the upper surface or leading edge of the proppant pack and thereby provide a seal along this upper edge of the proppant pack.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1977Date of Patent: August 29, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventor: Marion L. Slusser
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Patent number: 4105738Abstract: A flexible and foldable foam plastic sheet and a process for making same, said process comprising initially compressing the foam sheet between two surfaces at least one of which is a textured surface (e.g., screen like) to reduce the sheet in thickness and reduce or destroy the resilience of the foam, and then, when further reduction in thickness of the resulting sheet is desired, pressing the resulting compressed sheet between two substantially smooth surfaces to achieve such desired further reduction in thickness. Mechanical properties of the foam sheet so processed are desirably increased thereby producing a foam sheet product suitable as a replacement for paper in many applications.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1976Date of Patent: August 8, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventor: Charles L. Rohn
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Patent number: 4105570Abstract: A method of recovering oil from a subterranean oil reservoir by waterflooding in which at least a portion of the injected water contains an anionic surfactant comprising a hydrocarbyl hydroxyalkane aminoalkane sulfonate. The hydroxy group is in the 4- or 5-position with respect to the sulfonate group. This surfactant is stable in the presence of high concentrations of divalent metal ions. Thus, this process is applicable in those situations in which the reservoir waters and/or the waters employed in formulating the flooding medium exhibit high divalent metal ion concentrations.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1977Date of Patent: August 8, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventors: Stamoulis Stournas, Joseph J. Dickert, Jr.
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Patent number: 4104151Abstract: Catalytic conversion of organic compounds in the presence of crystalline zeolite ZSM-23, or a thermal decomposition product thereof, is provided. Zeolite ZSM-23 has a composition, in the anhydrous state, expressed in terms of mole ratios ofoxides, as follows:(0.58 to 3.4)M.sub.2/n O : Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 : (40 to 25)SiO.sub.2wherein M is at least one cation having a valence n, and is characterized by a specified X-ray powder diffraction pattern.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1977Date of Patent: August 1, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventors: Mae K. Rubin, Charles J. Plank, Edward J. Rosinski
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Patent number: 4103963Abstract: A method of controlling calcite in an in situ leaching operation by retarding the growth of calcite crystals in the lixiviant only for the resident time that the lixiviant is in a critical area of the leach circuit and then allowing the calcite to precipitate from the lixiviant in a noncritical area. A chemical inhibitor, e.g., sodium hexametaphosphate, is added to the lixiviant as the lixiviant enters a critical area, e.g., from the bottom of a production well to surface processing equipment. The inhibitor is added to the lixiviant in an amount sufficient only to retard calcite precipitation while the lixiviant moves through a critical area but not to seriously impede calcite precipitation after the lixiviant exits the critical area.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1977Date of Patent: August 1, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventors: Wilton F. Espenscheid, Israel J. Heilweil, Tsoung Y. Yan
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Patent number: 4101866Abstract: A detector spread for marine seismic exploration has arrays with lengths which are dependent upon the acoustic velocity and dip of the subsurface formations being explored, upon the offset distance from the seismic source to the array and upon the reflection time of reflections from formations of interest. Hydrophones are positioned at approximately equally spaced intervals on a towing cable. The outputs of these hydrophones are combined to form arrays having lengths which are multiples of the intervals. Each array has the longest length possible, such that reflection amplitude response will remain in the band 0 .ltoreq. .DELTA.T/.tau. .ltoreq. 1.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1976Date of Patent: July 18, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventor: William H. Ruehle
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Patent number: 4100481Abstract: In the exploration for hydrocarbon gas, microwave energy is radiated from an antenna transported along a traverse above the surface of the earth. Microwave energy re-radiated from gas seeps is detected. Microwave energy reflected from hard targets along the traverse is also detected. Video monitors simultaneously display the detected re-radiated and reflected microwave energy. In this way, hydrocarbon gas seeps are displayed in relation to topographical features along the traverse.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1977Date of Patent: July 11, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventor: Luke S. Gournay
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Patent number: 4099332Abstract: An ullage gage for directly and accurately measuring the ullage of a cargo tank of a vessel such as an oil tanker without the necessity of opening the tank. The gage is comprised of a calibrated sword which is affixed to the underside of a cover plate which also contains a viewport for viewing the sword. The cover plate sealingly covers a service opening in the tank. The first calibration mark on the sword coincides with the underside of the deck of the vessel and has a value equal to the actual vertical distance from the lip of the ullage hatch to the underside of the deck at a point adjacent the gage. An adjustable means is provided to adjust the sword with relation to the cover plate to compensate for different deck thicknesses and/or deck camber of the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1977Date of Patent: July 11, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventor: John P. Jones, Jr.
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Patent number: 4098735Abstract: A water reducible epoxy ester is prepared by reacting an epoxy resin, preferably a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, with a monocarboxylic acid (C.sub.8 -C.sub.18) and a dibasic acid (e.g., azelaic acid) followed by reaction with trimellitic anhydride and neutralization of free carboxyl groups. This material is dispersed in an aqueous vehicle, applied to a metal substrate, and baked.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1977Date of Patent: July 4, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventor: Michael Allan Tobias
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Patent number: 4097737Abstract: Porosity measurements are carried out by employing a pulsed source of high energy neutrons actuated to irradiate a medium; some of the neutrons returning from the medium are detected by a specially filtered epithermal neutron detector. Control states are generated to define each of an ordered series of successively longer time intervals, the first of which is a few microseconds in length. Counters connected to the detector count representative numbers of the epithermal neutrons during each of the control states. Ratio functions are generated representative of the ratios of the epithermal neutrons counted during successively later equal length combinations of the time intervals. The ratio functions are compared with a predetermined threshold level and a porosity function is established in dependence upon the ratio function which earliest in time with reference to one of the irradiating pulses bears a predetermined relation to the threshold level.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1976Date of Patent: June 27, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventor: William R. Mills, Jr.
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Patent number: 4096074Abstract: A method for the recovery of oil from an oil-containing subterranean formation by waterflooding employing as an injection medium an aqueous solution of a viscosifier comprising the water-soluble reaction product of an organic polyisocyanate and the addition product of an alkylene oxide and linear, non-ionic polysaccharide, said addition product having a molecular weight of at least about 100,000. According to a preferred form of the invention, a polyisocyanate cross-linked hydroxyethyl cellulose is utilized as a viscosifier to decrease the mobility ratio between the injected water and oil, thereby improving the efficiency of the waterflood. The novel viscosifiers which comprise one form of the invention are characterized by an improved resistance to the effect of divalent metal ions present in the formation as well as a thermal stability which is superior to that of the viscosifiers currently used in waterflooding operations.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1976Date of Patent: June 20, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventor: Stamoulis Stournas
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Patent number: 4090523Abstract: This specification discloses a system and method for flushing and cleaning a hydrocyclone used in removing drilled solids from a drilling mud circulated in the drilling of a borehole. The system is comprised of a feed pump connected via a mud conduit to the inlet of a hydrocyclone. A check valve is located in the mud conduit intermediate the feed pump and the inlet of the hydrocyclone which allows the mud to flow through the mud conduit only in the direction toward the hydrocyclone. Another conduit for flowing a cleaning liquid is connected with the mud conduit on the hydrocyclone side of the check valve. A valve responsive to a signal, pressure or electrical, is located in this other conduit intermediate the mud conduit and a supply of cleaning liquid.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1976Date of Patent: May 23, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventors: John Kelly, Jr., Wilbur F. Roper
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Patent number: 4089376Abstract: This specification discloses a method of cementing pipe in a well and discloses a cement slurry which may be used for cementing pipe against evaporite sections penetrated by the well. The cement slurry is formulated from hydraulic cement, silica flour, attapulgite, sodium chloride, weighting agent, dispersing and retarding agent, and water, and has a density within the range of about 13.0 to 21.0 pounds per gallon.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1976Date of Patent: May 16, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventor: Joseph U. Messenger
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Patent number: 4088154Abstract: A desurging system is placed in the fluid flow line near the output of a fluid pump to remove pressure fluctuations created in the flowing fluid by action of the fluid pump. The fluid passes through a gas-loaded, diaphragm type, fluid desurger. A gas volume control unit automatically controls the gas volume in the desurger by controlling both the gas-charging and the gas-discharging operations in response to measurements of the gas volume in the desurger and the gas flow rate into and out of the desurger. A diaphragm protection control unit is responsive to a measurement of the differential pressure across the diaphragm of the desurger to automatically bleed off the gas pressure in the desurger any time that such pressure exceeds the strength limitations of the diaphragm.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1976Date of Patent: May 9, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventors: Bobbie J. Patton, John W. Harrell
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Patent number: 4087936Abstract: This specification discloses a process for the production of alga biopolymer and alga biomass. The first step of the process is carried out in a seed reactor. In this step, an aqueous culture containing an inoculum of alga and nutrients required for the growth of the alga is subjected to artificial illumination of an intensity and for such a time as to initiate growth of the alga. The aqueous culture is also subjected to the action of a mixture of carbon dioxide and air during this first step. After growth of the alga is initiated, at least a portion of the alga biomass is transferred to a main reactor where the second step of the process is carried out. In this step, the alga biomass in an aqueous culture is subjected to artificial illumination of an intensity and duration to effect growth of alga biomass and, concomitantly, synthesis of alga biopolymer. It is also subjected to the action of a mixture of carbon dioxide and air.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1976Date of Patent: May 9, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventors: Joseph G. Savins, Maynard L. Anderson
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Patent number: 4086778Abstract: A subsea connection unit for remotely connecting a first flowline to a complementary second flowline at a submerged location. The unit is comprised of a connector assembly which is attached to the end of the first flowline and a base structure adapted to be positioned on the marine bottom and to hold the end of the second flowline. A pulldown line is attached to the connector assembly and extends downward through the base structure and back to the surface. As the first flowline is pulled downward to the marine bottom, a guide cone on the connector assembly is pulled into a cone receiver on the base structure to properly align the two flowlines. A special guide assembly on the base structure insures that the guide cone will enter the cone receiver.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 1977Date of Patent: May 2, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventors: Raymond E. Latham, Bernard P. Usquin
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Patent number: 4086600Abstract: In a seismic data processing system, seismic data in channel-sequential format intensity modulates the electron beam of a cathode-ray tube. A photographic drum plotter provides a recording of the seismic data displayed on the face of the cathode-ray tube. A screen of multilined squares is placed in contact with the photographic film on the drum plotter so that the seismic data is recorded in a half-tone, variable-density format.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1976Date of Patent: April 25, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventors: Carroll D. McClure, John D. Hodge, Jr.
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Patent number: 4084151Abstract: A seismic recording system employs amplifiers, a multiplexer, and an analog-to-digital converter for converting analog seismic reflection signals obtained during seismic exploration operations to a serial output of multiplexed digital samples. An input controller restores to the digital samples the original amplitude of the seismic signals as they were received by the field recorder and scales the digital samples for later compositing into a seismic record in a central processing unit. An output controller then applies to each digital sample in the composite record a desired gain prior to recording on a magnetic tape unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1976Date of Patent: April 11, 1978Assignee: Mobil Oil CorporationInventor: Wayne A. Penner