Abstract: A process to substantially reduce fluid loss in which an appropriate amount of a non-flowing gel of sufficient strength is emplaced to substantially eliminate or reduce loss of the drilling fluid. The gel composition of the process includes: (1) a non-cellulose containing copolymer having vinyl phosphonate co-monomer units which may be incorporated into the polymer by copolymerization with the other co-monomer(s) comprising the polymer or by grafting upon an already existing polymer or co-polymer, (2) a crosslinking agent active upon the phosphonate groups, (3) a crosslinking initiator comprising a Bronsted Lowry base or Lewis base and (4) an aqueous solvent.

Abstract: A water-base fluid for use in drilling, cementing, workover, fracturing and abandonment of subterranean wells through a formation containing a shale which swells in the presence of water. In one illustrative embodiment, the drilling fluid includes, an aqueous based continuous phase, a weighting agent, and a shale hydration inhibition agent. The shale hydration inhibition agent should have the general formula: in which A is independently selected from H and CH2CH2CH2NH2; and in which B is independently selected from H, CH2CH2OH, CH2CH2OCH2CH2CH2NH2 and CH2CH2CH2NH2. The shale hydration inhibition agent is present in sufficient concentration to substantially reduce the swelling of shale drilling cuttings upon contact with the drilling fluid.

Abstract: A method of formulating and the resulting biodegradable wellbore fluid includes a first synthetic internal olefin fraction having from 16 to 18 carbon atoms (C16-18 IO), a second synthetic internal olefin fraction having between 15 to 18 carbon atoms (C15-18 IO), and a third synthetic internal olefin fraction having 15 to 16 carbon atoms (C15-16 IO). The components of the wellbore fluid are blended such that the desired characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content, toxicity and biodegrability are balance to achieve compliance with environmental requirements for hydrocarbon based drilling fluids.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for reducing the level of hydrogen sulphide in a liquid or gas by treatment of the liquid or gas with an H2S-scavenger product derivable by the reaction of a carbonyl group-containing compound with an alcohol, thiol, amide, thioamide, urea or thiourea. The carbonyl group-containing compound is preferably formaldehyde, and preferably the product is derivable by reaction of formaldehyde with an amine-free alcohol or urea selected from ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, ethyl alcohol, n-butanol, a sugar, a low molecular weight polyvinyl alcohol, castor oil fatty acid and urea. More especially, the scavenger product is used with an amine, especially monoethanolamine.

Abstract: The invention concerns modified hydrophobic polyelectrolytes by amide formation of a hydrophilic skeleton by n-alkylamines whereof the alkyl chain comprises 6 to 22 carbon atoms. Preferably, the amide formation is obtained by di-n-dodecylamine. The hydrophilic skeleton is preferably a sodium polyacrylate or polyacrylic acid corresponding to a statistical acrylate-AMPS copolymer. Said polymers can be used for stabilising direct or invert emulsions likely to be destabilised or inverted by a modification in the degree of salinity of the aqueous phase or a pH modification. The invention is particularly useful for stabilising oil drilling fluids or the like in particular drilling, fracturation, acidification or completion fluids.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating solid particles from a fluid. One preferred embodiment includes a tank for settling particles out of the fluid, a conical chamber at the bottom of the tank, an outlet connected to conical chamber, and a conical auger within the conical chamber. The tank may have a tangential inlet that creates a fluid circulation that exerts a centrifugal force on the solid particles to increase the settling of particles out of the fluid. The tank may have a static spiral on the inner wall that helps small particles coalesce into larger particles that settle faster out of the fluid. The fluid content of the solids removed from the tank may be controlled by varying the rotational speed of the conical auger. The rotational speed of the conical auger may be varied depending on the torque required to rotate the conical auger.

Abstract: A control method for an electromagnetic actuator for the control of an engine valve in which at least one electromagnet displaces an actuator body under the action of the force of magnetic attraction generated by the electromagnet, the electrical supply of the electromagnet being controlled as a function of an objective value of the magnetic flux circulating in the magnetic circuit formed by the electromagnet and the actuator body.

Abstract: A power plant for propeller aircraft has two propulsion devices, each having a propeller, an engine for powering the propeller, and a gear transmission interposed between the engine and the propeller. The transmission has a power input shaft connected directly to the engine, and a power output shaft supporting the propeller and rotated with respect to the input shaft about a hinge axis perpendicular to the output shaft. The gear transmission also has a single gear fitted to the output shaft and having two opposed sets of teeth meshing with a pair of pinions. One of the pinions extends coaxially with the hinge axis, and is connected to the input shaft by a single pair of gears.

Abstract: This invention refers to cages for pets, at all existent or necessary sizes, depending on the pets' needs; it has recyclable hydraulic irrigation, at all and every one of its gratings, superiors, inferiors, and all its sides. One platform or tray (3), with irrigation to all its sides, vertical as well as horizontal, internal and external, that equally has recyclable hydraulic irrigation, with an orifice at the platform that is in an unevenness of the ground, for the exit of the water and the residues. It can also be directly connected with the hose pipes and make it work the same. It has a trash deposit (18), that accumulates it even for a week, it's located at the top of the water deposit. One automatic drinking place (15) for birds of water with oxygenation and an exit for its recovery. Roof with illumination and side curtains. All systems can be integrated for its function in just one cage or each one separately, as required.

Abstract: A drive unit for an alternator of a motor vehicle is provided with a driven pulley, which rotates around its own axis, and with a unit for connection of the pulley to a rotary drive shaft for the alternator; the drive unit is also provided with a revolution-multiplier device and a torque-limiter device, which are disposed in series with one another and constitute part of the unit for connection of the pulley to the shaft of the alternator.

Abstract: A swim fin (10) having a foot-pocket formation (12) and a fin blade (14). The foot-pocket formation (12) defines a foot-receiving cavity in which a foot can be received. The fin blade (14) comprises a frontal blade portion (30) and a pair of side blade portions (32.1 and 32.2). The frontal blade portion extends longitudinally from a toe end of the foot-pocket formation and has a predetermined length and is spaced a predetermined height above an underside of the foot-pocket formation, which permits a wearer to walk unimpeded while wearing the swim fin. Each side blade portion includes a fixed blade section (36) and a flap formation (38) that is hingedly displaceable relative to the fixed blade section so as to change an edge profile of the fin blade, in use, for increasing the surface area of the fin blade during a propulsion stroke and decreasing the surface area thereof during a return stroke.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst for polymerization of olefin and the method of polymerization using the same, or more particularly, to a new catalyst for polymerization of olefin of a hybrid concept and the method of polymerization using the same, which comprises synthesizing a titanium compound chelated by means of amide and cyclopentadiene-based ligands, and activating the same by means of conventional MgCl2, etc., instead of using expensive methylaluminoxane. Moreover, the present invention can produce polymers of narrow distribution of molecular weights and even distribution of composition of co-polymers.

Abstract: An invert emulsion suitable for drilling subterranean wells, in particular oil and gas wells is disclosed which has negative alkalinity and includes an oleaginous phase, and a non-oleaginous phase and an emulsifying agent which stabilizes the invert emulsion under conditions of negative alkalinity. The practice of the present invention permits the formulation of drilling fluids which are absent an alkaline reserve and are compatible with elastomers utilized in drilling equipment. Thus the invert emulsion fluids of the present invention are highly suitable for drilling oil and gas wells.

Abstract: An additive which increases the density of wellbore fluids used during the construction or repair of oil, gas, injection, water or geothermal wells comprises solid colloidal particles of weight average particle diameter (D50) of less than 2 microns, the particles being deflocculated by the action of a dispersant, preferably incorporated during the process of grinding or communication of the particles to the specified particle size. The additives may be used in any wellbore fluid such as drilling, cementing, completion, packing, work-over (repairing), stimulation, well killing and spacer fluids as well as in a dense media separating fluid or in a ship's ballast fluid.

Abstract: A method of positioning arrays of stages of a turbine, particularly for aircraft engines; the turbine having an axis and a first, a second and a third array of blades arranged consecutively, and of which the first and third array have a relative velocity about the axis with respect to the second array; the method including the steps of determining the paths of wakes moving inside gaps defined by the blades in the second array and towards the third array; distinguishing, for each wake, a first and at least one second zone differing from each other; selecting one of the first and second zone; and regulating the position of the third array with respect to the first array by aligning the leading edges of the blades in the third array with the paths of the selected wake zones.

Abstract: An incubator for premature or weakly infants having a base section which serves as a support for both the infant in the incubator chamber and a protective top section made of a substantially transparent material. The incubator chamber is surrounded by an inner and an outer shell. The temperature and humidity of the air in the incubator chamber is controlled by introducing conditioned air into the incubator chamber and withdrawing it between the inner and outer shells.

Abstract: A water-base drilling fluid for use in drilling wells through a formation containing a shale which swells in the presence of water. The drilling fluid preferably includes: an aqueous based continuous phase, a weight material, and a shale hydration inhibition agent having the formula: H2N—R—{OR′}x—Y in which R and R′ are alkylene groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and x is a value from about 1 to about 25. The Y group should be an amine or alkoxy group, preferably a primary amine or a methoxy group. The shale hydration inhibition agent should be present in sufficient concentration to reduce the swelling of the shale. Also inclusive of the present invention is a method of reducing the swelling of shale clay encountered during the drilling of a subterranean well, the method comprising circulating in the well a water-base drilling fluid formulated in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: A method of electrically logging subterranean wells using a conductive fluid includes a miscible combination of an oleaginous fluid, a polar organic solvent, an electrolytic salt, and a carbon dioxide buffer. The electrolytic salt or brine of the salt is present in a concentration sufficient to permit the electrical logging of the subterranean well. The polar organic solvent may be an oil soluble glycol or glycol ether such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and the like. The electrolytic salt or brine preferably includes a quaternary amine salt having the formula: wherein R is an alkyl having 8 to 18 carbon atoms, R′ is 2 to 6 carbon atoms alkyl group, B is hydrogen, oxyalkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, A is hydrogen or alkyl with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, x+y=1 to 15, z is 0 to 3, and M is a counter anion; or combinations thereof. The carbon dioxide buffer is preferably a trialkylanol amine.

Abstract: A method of determining the dimensional characteristics of a biological object included: measuring without physical contact or disruption of sterility the length, width and height above or below a reference plane of the biological object with an optical distance measuring device thereby creating a data set; and processing the data set in a computer so as to determine the dimensional characteristics of the biological feature. Preferably the optical distance measuring means is a laser based distance measuring device and the storage of x axis values, y axis values and distance values is in the electronic memory of a computer. The biological surface may be a wound bed or a dermal surface, or alternatively the biological surface may be vascular tissue including heart valves, veins and arteries.

Abstract: A method of producing three dimensional polyurethane shapes by spray molding a quasi-gel like polymer precursor composition that is first mixed and then sprayed by a spray gun. The spray coating of quasi-gel polymer precursor composition subsequently cures to form a molded polyurethane polymer shape. Such artificial three dimensional shapes may include rocks, rock walls or faces, tree stumps or limbs, animals, architectural features or settings in which a certain visual appearance is desired.