Abstract: Stabilized liquid hydrocarbon condensate is obtained by a process comprising the steps of:(a) introducing said condensate, at an elevated temperature and pressure, into a stabilizer column operated under conditions effective to separate said condensate into (i) a liquid portion which is a stabilized condensate comprising n-C.sub.4 t hydrocarbons, and (ii) a gaseous portion, which comprises CO.sub.2 and normally gaseous hydrocarbons(b) withdrawing said liquid portion, (i), from said stabilizer and dividing it into a stabilized condensate product stream that is recovered and a recycle stream that is cooled and reintroduced as liquid feed into said stabilizer column; and(c) withdrawing said gaseous portion, (ii), from said stabilizer column.

Abstract: Seismic reflection events are enhanced by separating the events from seismic data, increasing the amplitude of the events, and adding the events back into the seismic data.

Abstract: Molecular sieves are used to remove sulfur compounds (e.g., COS and H.sub.2 S) from liquid hydrocarbon streams, particularly liquid propane. During regeneration of the sieves, some of the liquid hydrocarbons remains on the sieves and is lost be vaporization during the purge step and the liquid fill step. This invention reduces the loss by recovery and recycle of the vaporized hydrocarbons in the liquid recovery process.

Abstract: Molecular sieves are used to remove sulfur compounds (e.g., COS and H.sub.2 S) from liquid hydrocarbon streams, particularly liquid propane. During regeneration of the sieves, some of the liquid hydrocarbons remains on the sieves and is lost by vaporization during the purge step and the liquid fill step. This invention reduces the loss by recovery and recycle of the vaporized hydrocarbons in the liquid recovery process.

Abstract: A high pressure stream of natural gas is treated to remove ethane and higher boiling point hydrocarbons and to produce a low pressure stream of pipeline gas and a high pressure stream of pipeline gas. The method comprises the steps of:(a) passing at least a portion of said high pressure stream of natural gas sequentially through:(1) a first heat exchanger where said stream of natural gas is cooled,(2) a Joule-Thompson valve where said stream of natural gas is expanded adiabatically and the temperature and pressure of the stream are each reduced sufficiently to cause ethane and high boiling fluids to condense, and(3) a first gas/liquid separator where a stream of low pressure pipeline gas is separated from condensed fluids;(b) withdrawing the low pressure pipeline gas from said first separator and flowing it through said first heat exchanger, where the gas is warmed, and into a pipeline or other suitable collector; and(c) withdrawing the condensed fluids from said first separator.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for imparting only shear wave energy into the earth comprising a vibrating pad for connection to a mobile support, such as a wheeled vehicle, and means for vibrating the pad to impart at least two polarizations of shear wave energy into the earth. One such means includes azimuthally rotating the pad and/or the vibration energy generator.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for logging a formation penetrated by an inclined or horizontal wellbore utilizing a conventioanl logging tool. A collar catcher assembly is attached to a lower portion of a drillstring and a collar is attached to an upper portion of a logging tool. The drillstring is lowered within the wellbore to a position adjacent the formation to be logged. The logging tool is transported through the drillstring until the collar thereon engages and is restrained by the catcher assembly. Then the formation is logged while the drillstring is withdrawn through the wellbore.

Abstract: Oxygen enriched gas to Claus furnace or catalytic reactor is diluted with a process derived dilute H.sub.2 S or SO.sub.2 stream to prevent excessive temperature rise due to use of the oxygen enriched gas.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for canceling acoustic reverberations caused when acoustic energy impinges a medium. In one method, a series of positive pulses of acoustic energy are transmitted and the amplitudes of the resulting acoustic reverberations are measured. Negative pulses of acoustic energy are then transmitted having amplitudes equal to the immediately preceding received acoustic reverberation and at a time later than the positive pulses so that the acoustic reverberations are driven to a null.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus are disclosed for drilling a well including providing drilling data, which can include drilling rig parameters, geological parameters, wellbore parameters, and drillstring parameters, on a real time basis from at least one well into a database associated with a programmable digital computer. The drilling data can be provided via telephone lines, hard wire connections, radio transmissions, microwave transmissions or fiber optical transmissions into the database. Associated with the database is a monitoring facility where drilling activities are monitored and, if desired, future drilling actions are simulated utilizing the drilling data within the database.

Abstract: Fluid is injected into a wellbore at a first rate which is low enough to maintain formation pressure beneath formation parting pressure. Thereafter, the rate of fluid injection is increased to a second rate which is high enough to exceed formation parting pressure. The time and pressure data obtained during the first and second periods are normalized, plots thereof are superposed and the formation parting pressure is determined by noting the point at which the plots deviate from one another.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for constructing an ice structure. The disclosed ice structures are a road and a grounded ice island which are constructed on a sheet of naturally-occurring ice in an ocean. A vehicle equipped for driving on ice includes thereon a rotatable grinding wheel which may be urged downwardly against the ice over which the vehicle is driven, thereby generating ice chips which are collected on the vehicle. The chips are mixed with water to form a slurry which is pumped through a hose to a portable sprayer through which the slurry is sprayed, thereby forming the ice structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of logging a subterranean formation through a wellbore containing a fluid, wherein no shear wave signal is obtainable utilizing conventional sonic well logging tools suspended in the wellbore. The shear wave signal is not obtainable usually because the acoustic velocity of the wellbore fluid is greater than the shear wave velocity of the formation to be logged. In the present method, the acoustic velocity of the wellbore fluid is adjusted until a shear velocity signal is obtainable by lowering the acoustic velocity of the wellbore fluid until it is less than the shear wave velocity of the formation. Thereafter, the formation is logged through the wellbore to obtain a shear wave signal.

Abstract: At least two methods of reconstituting the original form of a time/amplitude trace, such as seismic data, are disclosed wherein the seismic data has been rectified by a scanner to produce a signal representative of a hardcopy display of the trace. One of the methods comprises selecting a time window of a certain duration, obtaining a measurement of the predominant period within the selected positive components of the signal, and filtering the signal with a bandpass filter having a range of about F/2 to about 3F/2, where F equals the reciprocal of the predominant period of the signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating and removing sand from fluid streams are provided. The apparatus is comprised of a closed separator vessel having first and second compartments therein. An inlet connection is attached to the vessel for introducing the fluid stream into the first compartment and filter means for separating sand from the fluid stream are disposed within the first compartment. The fluid stream is caused to flow from the first compartment through the filter means into the second compartment from where the fluid stream is removed by way of an outlet connection attached to the vessel. Conduit means attached through a wall of the vessel are disposed within the first compartment for conducting and periodically discharging sand wash liquid thereinto.

Abstract: Use of an air-blown underground coal gasification plant to produce low-Btu gas thereby providing boiler fuel needed for an oxygen-blown underground coal gasification plant. The product from the oxygen-blown plant can be used for the production of synthetic natural gas or other uses. A preferred production gasification is also shown.

Abstract: Underground coal gasification process containing a novel system of injection and production wells. Specifically, the injection well is positioned at an angle with respect to horizontal of less than the angle of repose of loose coal and char for the particular coal seam, and the production well is positioned at an angle with respect to horizontal of greater than the angle of repose but less than 90.degree.. This system protects the injection well during the process and places the production well in a position for maximum production while relieving it of certain tensile and shear stresses.

Abstract: A method of producing viscous oils from reservoirs containing unconsolidated or friable sands comprising drilling the well, stimulating same with steam at a pressure sufficient to fracture the reservoir adjacent the well, shutting in the well, installing a gravel pack, producing oil from the well, and periodically, subsequently stimulating the well by injecting steam at a pressure below that which would result in a fracture of the reservoir.

Abstract: Xanthan gum is produced by means of semi-continuous fermentation using a culture of either Xanthomonas campestris XCP-1 ATCC 31600 or Xanthomonas campestris P-107 ATCC 31602, in a minimal medium, allowing the system to ferment for a period of about 24 hours, withdrawing a portion of the fermented medium, recovering xanthan from the withdrawn portion, adding fresh, sterile medium to the residual medium and repeating the above cycle.

Abstract: In the production of xanthan gum by the action of Xanthomonas bacteria on a nutrient medium, the specific productivity of the organism employed can be improved by the increase in average cell concentration through the stepwise increase of growth limiting nutrients in the medium.