Abstract: An apparatus for detecting small changes in the location of a float, has, in combination, a signal generator for emitting a signal having a characteristic, a detector for detecting a modulated signal by producing a response signal directly related to the characteristic, a support for positioning the signal generator and the detector, and a float weighted to float at a desired depth in a selected liquid. Also included are a reservoir for holding a measuring medium, a plug for preventing condensation of vapors within the float, with the float movably connectable to the support, and the detector and the signal generator fixedly connectable to the support so that the signal when emitted by the signal generator will have the characteristic of the signal modulated by the measuring medium by an amount which varies with changes in location of the float to produce a modulated signal.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for controlling the environment and temperature in the initial thermal reaction zone of an at least two-zone Claus thermal unit by means of control signals. Both a feed-back control and a feed-forward control are disclosed.

Abstract: A side entry apparatus for use in a drill string permits a wireline to be connected with tool apparatus within the pipe and passed to the exterior of the pipe intermediate the ends of the drill string so that sections of pipe may be added to the drill string without interrupting the connection and resulting communication between the wireline and tool apparatus to which it is connected. The side entry apparatus includes a housing having an opening through the wall of the housing. A sealing element is arranged to be positioned about the wireline, between the wireline and the opening. A jacking mechanism is used to compress the sealing element and thereby move it into sealing contact about the wireline.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing impurities from a slurry of titanyl hydrate. The titanyl hydrate is separated from the slurry, washed, and reslurried with water to make the resulting titanyl hydrate slurry fluid. The reslurried titanyl hydrate slurry is then treated by the addition of a trivalent titanium compound in an amount between about 0.01 grams and about 0.7 grams trivalent titanium compound measured as TiO.sub.2 per 100 grams titanyl hydrate as calcined TiO.sub.2 in the absence of additional acid values. The titanyl hydrate is then separated from the treated slurry, washed and recovered.

Abstract: Carbon black products useful as an ingredient in dry cell battery compositions are disclosed which have a wide aggregate size distribution with a range of measured aggregate volume from about 5.times.10.sup.4 to about 1.times.10.sup.9 nm.sup.3, a geometric mean aggregate volume (Log Vg, nm.sup.3) of about 6.2 to about 7.5, geometric standard deviation (for Log Vg, nm.sup.3) of about 0.7 to about 1.0, a dibutyl phthalate absorption ranging from about 210 to about 270 cc/100 g., a nitrogen surface area ranging from about 30 to about 60 m.sup.2 /g, an average stacking height (L.sub.c) of ordered graphitic layer segments ranging from about 2.7 to about 3.7 nm. Novel furnace carbon blacks are disclosed which have the same characteristics but have an average stacking height (Lc) of ordered graphitic layer segments ranging from about 1.6 to about 3.7 nm.

Abstract: A receptacle device useful for receiving material, comprising a container having an opening, a covering pivotally mounted on the opening, and a substantially U-shaped operating member straddling the container and having at least one end rotatably connected to the covering so that the container can be opened and closed in response to actuating the operating member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of determining oil saturation in an underground rock formation penetrated by a wellbore by use of a log-inject-log technique. In such techniques, thermal neutron decay time logs are taken with the formation in the native state and then again after fresh water has been injected into the formation. These logs determine water saturations which are used to determine oil saturation. The method of this invention is directed to a method to prepare an aqueous salt solution so that clay and shale impairment of the formation is prevented but such that the thermal neutron capture cross section of the injected fresh water is not significantly different from that of the fresh water typically used.

Abstract: A new and improved method of forming a color graphic display from seismographic input data is disclosed. The input data sequence is processed to obtain the absolute value of each amplitude value and to select the maximum amplitude value of each oscillation of the waveform. A predetermined number of the largest selected values are classified into a first range of values, the remaining values are scaled according to magnitude into a preset number of ranges and an assignment table is formed with each range being represented by a primary or secondary color. Data corresponding to a first group of ranges of input data is processed to form a representation for a particular color. Similarly, the remaining data groups, corresponding to the remaining ranges, are processed to form a representation of the remaining colors. The image of each representation is sequentially transferred to a sheet and the images are colored with their respective colors, thus producing a color display of the seismic data.

Abstract: Highly conductive subterranean zones are treated with aqueous fluids containing gel-forming amounts of water-soluble lignosulfonate and silicate. Suitable treating fluids contain about 2 to about 5 weight percent sodium or ammonium lignosulfonate and sodium silicate at a weight ratio of SiO.sub.2 to lignosulfonate of about 0.2 to about 1.

Abstract: A viscoelastic polymer such as polyacrylamide is first prehydrated in an aqueous fluid having a low degree of hardness and the prehydrated viscoelastic polymer solution is mixed with hard brine to provide a polymer bank with improved mobility control. This improved mobility control is obtained by mixing the hard brine with the prehydrated viscoelastic polymer at high volume ratios of hard brine to the polymer.

Abstract: Highly conductive zones in subterranean formations are treated with aqueous fluids containing gel-forming amounts of water-soluble lignosulfonate and silicate. Suitable treating fluids contain about 2 to about 5 weight percent sodium or ammonium lignosulfonate and sodium silicate at a weight ratio of SiO.sub.2 to lignosulfonate of about 0.2 to about 1.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of isobutylene as tertiary butyl alcohol from a stream of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons comprising contacting the stream with an aqueous acid solution comprising from 50 to 80 wt % hydrocarbyl sulfonic acid, recovering from the resultant mixture an aqueous acid phase containing tertiary butyl alcohol and recovering from the acid phase the product tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: A 9 to 12 ppg (1.08 to 1.4 kg/liter) cement slurry for use in oil well type completions which comprises hydraulic cement about 10 to about 30 weight percent hollow glass microspheres based on the weight of the cement and sufficient water to form a pumpable slurry with an API free water content of no more than about 2 volume percent. This slurry is preferably mixed with an amount of water required to produce a slurry with the hydraulic cement having at least an API minimum water content and an API free water content of no more than about 2 volume percent and an additional amount of water equal to about 1.3 to about 1.8 weight percent water based on the weight of the hydraulic cement for each weight percent of the microspheres. The microspheres have true particle densities of about 0.2 to about 0.5 gm/cm.sup.3, hydrostatic collapse strengths of at least 500 psi (3447 kPa) and average particle diameters of less than about 500 microns.

Abstract: Micellar crude oil displacement efficiency is improved by partitioning the hydrocarbon sulfonate surfactants used in the formulation of micellar fluids between aqueous and oleic phases of a separation liquid and using the portion which is partitioned into the oleic phase in the formulation of the micellar fluid.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining the dispersion of carbon black in elastomeric slabs by cutting a slab to form a planar surface and moving a height measuring transducer stylus over the planar surface. The transducer stylus provides an output current at a voltage which varies in correspondence to the relative height of roughness peaks on the planar surface. Accordingly, the size of the peaks determines the size of carbon black agglomerates and the frequency of peaks for a predetermined range of height is determinative of percent dispersion of the carbon black.

Abstract: A method of selective plugging of undesirable high permeability streaks and channels in oil-bearing reservoirs during high temperature (250.degree. F. or higher) injection recovery processes such as steamflooding, underground combustion, flooding of a naturally occurring high-temperature reservoir or the like. Improved sweep efficiency can be effected by injecting a gel-forming solution consisting essentially of sodium or ammonium lignosulfonate and water or brine in the absence of other gelation promoters and then allowing the high temperatures of the underground formation to promote gelation. Optionally, a precooling water injection step can be used prior to placement of the gel-forming solution. This system has the advantage of gel times which are sufficiently long at temperatures in excess of 250.degree. F. to permit placement of large volumes characteristic of commercial use. This method is particularly useful in selectively forming firm, strong gels in thief zones for steamflooding recovery operations.

Abstract: A receptacle device useful for receiving material, comprising a container having an open end, a closure or lid detachably and pivotally mounted on the open end of the container and an operating member connected to the closure so that the closure can be raised to and from a closed position in response to operation of the operating member.