Abstract: The present invention is directed to a coin counter for use with a coin handling apparatus for receiving coins at a first location and discharging the coins at a second location through a coin discharge slot remote from the first location. The coin handling apparatus includes a coin transport channel extending from the first location to the second location and dimensioned so that coins can move therein in a single, edge-to-edge file. The channel terminates at the coin discharge slot at the second location. A sensor is located proximate to the coin discharge slot for sensing the passage of each coin as it leaves the channel through the coin discharge slot. A counter means is coupled with the sensor for counting the total number of coins passing through the coin discharge slot.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved SWATH type vessel having pontoons and a stern plane located in a position to influence water flow in the region of the tail cone portions of the pontoons and the propellers to reduce depression of the water adjacent the propellers which would otherwise cause propeller ventilation when the vessel is moving at speed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining heterogeneous properties of a core sample by use of pressure transients. In the method, a pressure is applied to a first closed vessel at one end of a core sample. The pressure is then allowed to dissipate into the core and into a second closed vessel at the other end of the core sample. The pressure in at least one of the vessels or the core itself is measured and recorded as a function of time during the pressure dissipation. The volume of the first vessel is then varied and pressure is once again applied to the first vessel and allowed to dissipate into the core and second vessel. The pressure is again measured and recorded as a function of time during the pressure dissipation. The two sets of recorded measurements are then analyzed to detect deviations from theoretical responses in homogeneous cores which identify heterogeneities.

Abstract: A spraying device having a sprayer head and an interchangeable, disposable, recyclable and/or biodegradable, and attachable cartridge, capable of diluting and dispensing a chemical. The device has a rotatable barrel valve to select whether to fill the cartridge, spray the diluted chemical, or prevent any flow. The device further has a pair of coupling tubes which permit the easy connection of the sprayer head to the cartridge in a way to cause, by aspiration, the partially diluted chemical to enter the sprayer head for further mixing and discharge. A rupturable or replaceable membrane is placed across the top of the cartridge to contain the concentrated chemical prior to use. A plug closure permits the addition of a chemical to the cartridge.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a component of the response of a reservoir to tidal forces (such as the amplitude of variation or delay time) in a hydrocarbons reservoir. That method comprises measuring a variable responsive to tidal forces within the reservoir over a measurement time period, determining a theoretical earth-tide for the reservoir over that measurement time period, and determining the component of the response to tidal forces by comparing the variable measurements and the theoretical earth-tide determinations. Examples of variables that are responsive to the tidal forces are fluid level in a borehole, pressure, and borehole stress. The measurement time period should be sufficiently long so that both a maximum and a minimum variable measurement are achieved during that time period (e.g., fourteen or twenty-four hours).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for determining petrophysical properties of porous media by the use of light transmission through the media. Specifically, by using a highly collimated light source, preferably a laser, the permeability, grain size, wettability, porosity and clay swelling behavior of a sample can be determined on the scale of millimeters. A calibration curve or function is first established to correlate light transmission through a slab of sandstone on the order of 5 to 10 mm under known conditions. This curved is then used to determine unknown conditions by measuring light transmission and comparing the values to those on the curve. Other applications for the phenomenon of light transmission through porous media are disclosed whereby conditions in a flowing stream of liquid can be monitored by use of light transmission. Specifically, changes in the refractive index and immiscible contamination can be detected.

Abstract: Recovery of viscous petroleum such as from tar sands is assisted using a controlled flow of hot fluid and hydrogen-generating gas in a flow path within the formation; thus a solid-wall hollow tubular member in the formation is used for conducting hot fluid to promote hydrogenation in conjunction with a hydrogen-generating gas and reduce viscosity of the petroleum to develop a potential passage in the formation outside the tubular member into which a drive fluid is injected to promote movement of the petroleum to a production position.

Abstract: A method for geophysical exploration by analyzing shear-wave polarization directions relative to a fixed coordinate frame is disclosed, for either vertical seismic profile data or surface seismic reflection data. Energy in a selected time window of two off-diagonal components is determined, and the source and receiver coordinate frame is then rotated, and energy is again determined. A second rotation of the source and receiver coordinate frame is followed by a third energy determination. A simple trigonometric function equation is generated to fit the determined energy values, and a minimum energy value is determined. The coordinate frame is then rotated by the angle that gives the minimum energy value, so that all of the signal is put on the diagonal components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus measures dielectric properties over a broad range of frequencies. The functions of various resistivity and dielectric constant measuring devices such as logging tools are combined in a single tool. A measuring tool includes novel transmitting and receiving antennas. Electromagnetic energy flows to a transmitting antenna. A stripline adapter permits transmission to a stripline having a metallic central strip. A strip face is bent at approximately right angles, and has a length that is compatible with the desired frequency coverage. A ground plane extends from the stripline adapter to the right angle bend, and a void exists between the center strip and the ground plane. A dielectric is positioned to nearly fill the void. The antennas are positioned so that the strip face lies flush with the tool face, to permit electromagnetic energy to be transmitted into and out of the material to be analyzed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fluid injection and oil production from a single wellbore which includes providing a path of communication between the injection and production zones.

Abstract: A method of heating produced fluid in a wellbore having multiple tubing strings. In the portion of the wellbore above the dual-string packer a portion of hot injection fluid is selectively flowed from the injection tubing string into the casing annulus where the production tubing is heated, and the flowing viscosity of fluids therein is lowered.

Abstract: A LCD display is driven by certain elements to indicate the responses of a geophone to various tests as a waveform. Waveforms are displayed for an impulse tests, wherein a current pulse is applied to the geophone and the response is displayed, and for a tap test, wherein the top of a geophone is tapped and the first break of the resulting displayed waveform indicates the polarity of the geophone connections. Response to a resistance test is provided by a level indicator. The waveform on the display may be examined with reference to a comparitor indicative of a proper response, and the operational or disfunctional condition of the geophone thereby determined.

Abstract: A polymer is disclosed that is useful in increasing the viscosity of carbon dioxide. That polymer comprises an organosilicon polymer having nonrandom crosslinkages that enhance backbone rigidity. Preferably, that polymer is a polyalkylsilsesquioxane. That polymer can be used in a method for recovering oil from an underground oil-bearing earth formation penetrated by an injection well and a producing well, in which method carbon dioxide is injected into the formation to displace oil towards the producing well from which oil is produced to the surface. The viscosity of the carbon dioxide injected into the formation is increased at least three-fold by the presence of a sufficient amount of the polymer and a sufficient amount of a cosolvent to form a solution of the polymer in the carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method for providing improved measurement of oil, water, and gas flow rates in producing wells using thru-tubing wireline inflatable and retrievable packers or plugs to systematically isolate producing zones within a wellbore. Surface flow rates are measured before and after zonal isolation, with the zonal production rate determined by the measured difference in flow rate before and after isolation. Surface measurement of individual production zones allows greater accuracy in measuring multiphase flows, while at the same time allowing evaluation of reservoir properties of the lower, isolated zones.

Abstract: A pressure regulator has a diaphragm mounted upon a base to form a flow chamber between the diaphragm and the base. A dome pressure casing is mounted upon the base to form a cavity between the casing and the diaphragm. One piece of tubing is connected either to the base or to the casing and passes sequentially through the base or casing, through the cavity, and through the diaphgram to the flow chamber for inlet fluid injection through the flow chamber. Another piece of tubing is connected either to the base or to the casing and passes sequentially from the flow chamber, through the diaphragm, through the cavity, and through the base or casing for fluid discharge. A pressure port within the dome pressure casing permits the supply of pressure to the diaphragm to restrict the fluid flow through the flow chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing water quality for subsurface injection that provides for samples of infinite volume to be passed over a membrane filter at a constant pressure. The apparatus uses a positive displacement pump drawing suction on the water source and discharging to a membrane filter. Between the pump discharge and the filter is an oil/water separation vessel to allow for sampling of well production fluids before oil removal if necessary. Fitted to the oil separation vessel is an adjustable pressure regulator, also known as a back pressure regulator, for maintaining constant pressure over the filter. The filter discharge water is collected in a volume calibrated vessel. The vessel is connected to load cells, and a data collection device records weight as a function of time. By measuring the water density, a time/volume curve can be automatically plotted by the data collection device.

Abstract: A production method for low permeability formations is disclosed. Short steam cycles followed by production of fluids to the surface from a single wellbore is described. The method may be practiced in sequential manner, thereby accessing multiple intervals of hydrogen containing formation. Reflashing of steam into the wellbore allows production of fluids to the surface without a pump in the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for improving the seismic resolution of geologic structures is disclosed. Refracted wave arrivals are gathered into common midpoint trace gathers. Data representations originating inside a critical offset distance are muted, and the remaining data is tau-P summed and projected into zero source-to-receiver offset. Constant velocity stacks can then be displayed. A plurality of common midpoint trace gathers can be used to generate multiple panels of tau-P sums. Portions of several of these panels can be combined to provide a complete image of the subsurface reactors. A near-surface velocity model can then be designed, to provide a solution to near-surface statics in seismic traces.

Abstract: A polymer is disclosed that is useful in increasing the viscosity of carbon dioxide. That polymer comprises a polysilalkylenesilane polymer, preferably polydimethylsilmethylenedimethylsilane. That polymer can be used in a method for recovering oil from an underground oil-bearing earth formation penetrated by an injection well and a producing well, in which method carbon dioxide is injected into the formation to displace oil towards the producing well from which oil is produced to the surface. The viscosity of the carbon dioxide injected into the formation is increased at least three-fold by the presence of a sufficient amount of a polysilalkylenesilane polymer and a sufficient amount of a cosolvent to form a solution of the polymer in the carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Method and apparatuses are disclosed for removing fine-grained particles from a gaseous sample stream from fluidized catalytic cracking regeneration unit. In one method, the fine-grained particles are wetted with condensate in a sampling system, then the wetted fine-grained particles are separated from the gaseous stream in a wetted packed column in the sampling system. The separated gaseous sample stream is cooled to remove condensible gases then is reheated. The separated fine-grained particles are kept wetted in the sampling system to prevent fouling of the sampling system, then stream is used as a motive force to return the wetted fine-grained particles to the fluidized catalytic cracking regeneration unit. The stream also is used as a drying agent to at least partially dry the wetted fine-grained particles outside of the sampling system and as a dilution agent to help prevent corrosion.