Abstract: A device is described for the automatic closing of openings on a floating structure whereby the need for human or manual intervention is eliminated. Once the floating structure is subjected to tilting (heeling), lateral, or other accelerating forces, an unstable mass is used as a triggering device to remove a block from interfering with the path of the closure. The closure rolls down a ramp and covers an adjacent opening to seal it., thus preventing uncontrollable flooding or fire from spreading within the structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the vertical location of a logging tool in a wellbore is disclosed. An electrical signal is transmitted through a conductor in a well logging cable and a second conductor in the surface. Change in length of the well logging cable is determined by monitoring phase changes in the signals from the first and second conductors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inhibiting permeablility damage of a hydrocarbon formation containing clay minerals in the vicinity of a well penetrating the formation while inhibiting pipe corrosion. It comprises: (1) injecting a wet steam comprising (a) an amount of ammonium ions to produce an ammonium ion concentration in the vapor phase condensate of the wet steam effective to inhibit the permeability damage of the formation in the vicinity of the vapor phase, and (b) an amount of a bicarbonate salt of the alkali metals, or mixtures thereof, effective to raise the pH of the liquid phase of the wet steam within the range of from about 7.5 to about 10.5; and (2) monitoring the pH of the residual liquid phase and continually adjusting the addition of the bicarbonate salt to maintain the pH within the range of from about 7.5 to about 10.5.

Abstract: A device is described for the automatic closing of openings on a floating structure whereby the need for human or manual intervention is eliminated. Once the floating structure is subjected to tilting (heeling), lateral, or other accelerating forces, an unstable mass is used as a triggering device to remove a block from interfering with the path of the closure. The closure rolls down a ramp and covers an adjacent opening to seal it, thus preventing uncontrolled flooding or fire from spreading within the structure.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for determining injection profiles in a steam injection well is disclosed. The mass flow rate and quality of steam entering the well is measured. A well logging tool is then used to measure temperature and/or pressure profiles within the perforated zone of the well. A liquid phase tracer is then injected for a short time into the well with the steam. The well logging tool contains dual gamma ray detectors and is used to measure the transit time of the tracer slug. In the preferred embodiment, the liquid tracer is radioactive elemental iodine or sodium iodide. The procedure is repeated with a vapor phase tracer which is radioactive Krypton, Argon, or Xenon in the preferred embodiment. A vapor and liquid profile can then be calculated with simple mass balance equations. In a second approach, a spinner survey and a single tracer survey are conducted.

Abstract: A method and means for determining the quality of steam in a flowing steam line is disclosed. A tracer solution is injected into a steam flow line. The tracer solution contains a liquid tracer that will reside almost entirely in the liquid phase and a vapor tracer that will reside almost entirely in the vapor phase in the steam line. Downstream of the tracer injection point a liquid sample and a vapor sample are removed and the concentration of liquid and vapor tracers are determined. With simple mass balance equations the steam quality is then determined.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for calculating the steady-state temperatures experienced by an Aluminum-Silicon piston. That piston has incorporated therein an Aluminum-Copper alloy device, such as a band integrally cast within the piston, a setscrew, or an installable wedge that is press-fit into the piston. Preferably, that alloy is a 3.5% to 4.5% Aluminum-Copper alloy that meets the requirements of Aluminum Association Alloy 242 that has been tailored to provide temperature information within 3.degree. C. over the temperature range of from 175.degree. C. to 375.degree. C. The steady-state temperature experienced by a piston in an oil qualifying run is calculated by subjecting the piston to an oil qualifying run of at least one hundred hours, testing the hardness of the apparatus, and calculating the steady-state temperature by reference to a calibration curve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for increasing the capacity of a tubular driven pile. A refrigeration unit is lowered into the pile and grouted in place above a cement plug. The area between the refrigeration unit and the plug is filled with a secondary refrigerant. Seawater fills the pile above the refrigeration unit and is used for refrigeration unit cooling. The refrigeration unit cools the brine until the soil surrounding the pile is frozen. The adfreeze strength of the frozen soil and the pile increase the pullout resistance of the pile. Further, the end-bearing capacity of the pile is increased as a result of the large frozen mass surrounding the pile.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nondestructive downhole seismic source capable of generating S.sub.V -waves, S.sub.H -waves, and P-waves alone or in combination to determine information about a surrounding geologic formation. The invention also includes processes of performing crosswell tomography and reverse vertical seismic profiling. The invention also includes a means and process to carry out in hole seismic logging operations.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus of mechanically stacked photovoltaic cells having two cells. The bottom cell has a layer of GaSb having regions of different conductivity forming a homojunction therein. The GaSb layer is sandwiched between a conductive substrate and a bottom passivating layer. In the bottom cell is a means for forming electrical contacts to the substrate and the incident surface of the bottom passivating layer. The top cell has a layer of GaAs having regions of different conductivity forming a homojunction therein, a top passivating layer contacting the surface of the layer of GaAs which is incident to solar radiation, and a means for forming electrical contacts to the layer of GaAs opposed to solar radiation and the incident surface of the passivating layer.

Abstract: A portable instrument for testing at the wellhead continuously, or a stationary instrument for use at a production battery, the outflow of crude hydrocarbons from the well or wells. The invention utilizes a simple relationship of density and thermal coefficients of expansion of the oil and the water, together with improved instrumentation to measure mass flow rate of the crude mixture, to produce accurate continuous readings of oil and water contents in the crude. The invention depends upon state of the art technology both as to the crude handling and the electronics portions of its apparatus.

Abstract: An automated method of determining relative permeability is described comprising the steps of injecting known flow rates of water and a hydrocarbon into a core; measuring a pressure differential across the core; flowing the water and the hydrocarbon into a water-hydrocarbon interface measuring column; monitoring an interface level in the column with an ultrasonic probe, and calculating relative permeability with an automated device based on the pressure differential and the interface level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric valve device used in remotely operable applications. It comprises a valve body with a centrally placed slidable valve core. The core has an aperture for fluid passage and may be held in position by an electromagnet in the valve body. Windings are placed in one end of the valve body so that they encircle the slidable core and a spring is placed in the other end. To move the core, a DC current source is connected to the windings so that when they are energized a force is generated to move the core in a specific direction. The core is then held in this position by the contact between the electromagnet in the valve body and the valve core until the current in the magnetic windings is switched off, then the spring return to the core to its original, closed position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric valve device used in subsea applications. It comprises a valve body with a centrally placed slidable valve core. The core has an aperture for fluid passage and may be held in position by 2 permanent magnets in the valve body. Windings are placed in the valve body so that they encircle the slidable core. To move the core, a DC current source is attached to the windings so that when they are energized a force is generated to move the core in a specific direction. The core is then held in this position by the contact between the magnets in the valve body and the valve core until the polarity of the windings is switched and the valve is moved in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A downhole fixed choke mandrel apparatus for steam injection is described. The apparatus permits the dividing of the injection of a non-compressible fluid into two portions for injection into different producting zones separated by non-producing strata such that the quantity and quality of the injected material can be adequately derived and monitored. The apparatus further provides for the logging through the injection tubing string above and below the first injection into the first producing zone.

Abstract: A method of producing random sweeps for seismic vibrator sources is described which produces correlograms with reduced side lobe contamination. Digital random phase digital codes activate non-impulsive sources. Detected signals are processed using periodic sweep correlations. The method is especially useful in urban areas where permitting requirements limit the drive level and frequency range of a vibratory seismic source.

Abstract: The present invention is comprised of a non-intrusive microwave sensor system for measuring fluid saturation or multiple fluids contained within a flowline or a fluid saturated porous medium. Here, the microwave oil saturation scanner (MOSS) comprises a transmit portion and a measurement portion. The transmit portion generates two signals for different purposes. The first signal is used as a reference signal upon which the sample signal is eventually compared. The second signal is transmitted through the sample which causes a phase angle shift and signal attenuation. The two signals are then compared in the measurement portion where the phase angle shift and the signal attenuation is related to the concentration of oil and water in the sample mixture.

Abstract: A method of treating CO.sub.2 rich gas for injection into a petroleum reservoir is described. CO.sub.2 rich gas containing methane, nitrogen, ethane, propane, butanes, and heavier components is distilled such that substantially all of the heavier components are produced as a bottoms product and substantially all of the CO.sub.2, ethane, and propane are produced as an overhead vapor. The presence of ethane and propane in the overhead vapors overcomes the effect of nitrogen and methane on minimum miscibility pressure in the reservoir, and the problems created by CO.sub.2 freezing and the CO.sub.2 /ethane azeotrope are avoided, furthermore, a readily marketable liquid product is produced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the gas flow rate in a high pressure critical flow nozzle is disclosed. A high pressure gas flows through a first critical flow nozzle. Upstream of the first critical flow nozzle a small slip-stream of gas is removed and flows through a smaller second critical flow nozzle. The small second critical flow nozzle drops the pressure of the gas to a low level. This flow rate of this low pressure gas stream is measured in a highly accurate low pressure gas flow rate measuring device. Since the flow rate in this device must be the same as that of the second critical flow nozzle, a correction factor can be calculated for the second critical flow nozzle. This flow rate correction factor will be the same for the first critical flow nozzle.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for determining when critical flow conditions are reached in a nozzle. The apparatus comprises a flow nozzle having a throat therein, a means for measuring temperature in the throat, a means for measuring temperature downstream of the throat, and a means for determining differential temperature between the throat and the downstream location. The method comprises measuring a temperature in the throat of the critical flow nozzle, measuring the temperature downstream of the nozzle, and adjusting an upstream pressure to maximize the difference between the throat and the downstream location.