Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the density of a subterranean formation from within a wellbore, especially a cased wellbore. The apparatus has an energy source configured to generate 14 MeV of neutrons in pulses of 20 microseconds or less. The apparatus has at least three detectors for detecting gamma rays which are produced as a result of the neutron pulse. The detectors and energy source are aligned along a central axis with the energy source being at one end. Shielding is disposed between each of the three detectors and between the end detector and the energy source adjacent to it. The detectors are configured to measure gamma rays below 700 KeV and generate a signal in response thereto. The signals may then be compared to predetermined characteristic signals or computer simulations to determine the density, and hence porosity, of the formation.

Abstract: Filled crystalline thermoplastic resin chips are incorporated into a filled synthetic resin matrix for producing varicolored mineral appearing articles. Wollastonite filled polyphthalamide resin chips increase the surface hardness and decrease the ASTM E 84 Smoke Index of neopentyl glycol/isophthalic polyester molded articles. Crystalline thermoplastics can be extruded in shapes for providing varishaped chips.

Abstract: A subterranean drill bit operable with a rotational drive source is provided for drilling in subterranean earthen materials to create a borehole having a borehole wall. The drill bit comprises a drill bit body having a base portion, a gauge portion and a face portion disposed about a bit axis. A plurality of diamond cutting elements are fixedly disposed on and project from the face portion and are spaced from one another. The cutting elements are disposed for causing a net radial imbalance force during the drilling along a net radial imbalance force vector substantially perpendicular to the bit axis. A substantially continuous cutter devoid region is disposed on the gauge portion about the force point, and a bearing support is disposed in the cutter devoid region about the force point for substantially continuously contacting the borehole wall during the drilling.

Abstract: A subterranean drill bit is provided that comprises a drill bit body having a base portion disposed about a longitudinal bit axis, a gauge portion disposed about the bit axis and extending from the base portion, and a face portion disposed about the bit axis extending from the gauge portion. The drill bit further includes a plurality of cutting elements fixedly disposed on and projecting from the face portion and spaced from one another. A hydrostatic bearing is disposed in the gauge portion to create a hydrostatically lubricated low friction zone that facilitates rotation of the drill bit without gripping of rotation of the drill bit is thereby maintained substantially at one location on the drill bit, which avoids backwards whirling and provides stable bit rotation.

Abstract: The irreducible water saturation profile across the length of a core sample of coal is determined from four series of X-ray attenuation measurements made over the length of the core sample. The X-ray attenuation measurements are made while the core sample is at a pressure simulating a formation overburden pressure. The first series of X-ray attenuation measurements are made while the core sample is saturated with distilled water or formation brine. The distilled water or formation brine is then displaced with humidified, inert, substantially nonadsorbing gas and a second series of X-ray attenuation measurements are made. The core sample is then saturated with an aqueous sodium iodide solution and a third series of X-ray attenuation measurements are made. The aqueous sodium iodide solution is then displaced with a humidified, inert, substantially nonadsorbing gas and a fourth series of X-ray attenuation measurements are made.

Abstract: Apparatus for drilling a large diameter hole in the surface of a material includes an upper body; a lower body rotatably connected to the upper body; a motor for rotating the lower body relative to the upper body; cutting discs, connected to the lower body for cutting the material and moving the material toward a casing; the casing, extending through the upper and lower bodies, for receiving the cuttings from the cutting disk and carrying the cuttings through the bodies; and an engagement assembly for limiting downward travel of the casing and the bodies so that the casing is securable in a preselected position of downward travel and is removable through the upper side of the upper body. The engagement assembly engages the casing with the lower body so that the casing is rotated with the lower body. An auger having a hollow interior can be provided at the lower end of the casing.

Abstract: An improved aqueous catalytic oxidation-reduction composition for oxidizing hydrogen sulfide to produce elemental sulfur and a method of removing hydrogen sulfide from a gas stream whereby a gas stream containing hydrogen sulfide is brought into contact with an aqueous catalytic oxidizing reaction composition containing a water soluble polyvalent metal salt having metal in the highest valence state and at least one nonionic surfactant having an HLB of from about 8 to about 10, preferably about 8.5 to about 9, which is adapted to wet the elemental sulfur formed. The nonionic surfactant is present in the reaction solution in an amount sufficient to substantially prevent formation of sulfur froth at the surface of the reaction solution and to cause the sulfur to precipitate as a granular solid that can be recovered by filtration, by centrifucation, or other similar means.

Abstract: A method of increasing the rate of methane production from a coal seam includes introducing a desired volume of a gas, that causes coal to swell, into the coal seam adjacent a wellbore, maintaining the coal seam adjacent the wellbore in a pressurized condition for a period of time to permit the gas to contact a desired area of the coal adjacent the wellbore, and relieving the pressure within the coal seam by permitting fluids to flow out from the wellbore at a rate essentially equivalent to the maximum rate permitted by the wellbore and any surface wellbore flow control equipment. Uneven stress fractures should be created in the coal by this method which will increase the near wellbore permeability of the coal seam.

Abstract: A method of producing methane by injecting inert gas, such as nitrogen, through an injection well into a solid carbonaceous subterranean formation (e.g., coal) and recovering methane from a production well(s). Methane desorption is achieved by reduction in methane partial pressure rather than by reduction in total pressure alone.

Abstract: A method of exploring for hydrocarbons is disclosed wherein core is obtained over substantially the entire length of a well and substantially all lithologies represented within the core are analyzed at a core analysis facility located adjacent the well. A measurement of a plurality of physical properties of the core are made promptly after the core is removed from the well. Thereafter, from the measurement of these physical properties, a depth correlated record is generated, and is used (a) to adjust the drilling plan for that well while it is being drilled, (b) used as inputs into other exploration processes, such as seismic surveys, magnetic surveys and gravity surveys, or (c) used for correlation with other depth correlated records obtained from other wells.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for deflecting the drilling direction of a rotary drill string and drill bit through a borehole wall include an anchor, a housing, and a chute. The anchor anchors the apparatus in the borehole. The housing is connectable to the anchor and has an uphole end, a downhole end, a sidewall extending between the uphole end and the downhole end, and a passageway extending through the housing. The passageway has an entrance through the uphole end of the housing and an exit through the sidewall of the housing. The chute is slidably disposed in the housing passageway and has an uphole end, a downhole end, a sidewall extending between the uphole end and the downhole end, and a passageway extending through the chute from the uphole end through the downhole end. The chute passageway passes the drill bit and drill string through the chute.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a novel method of fracturing subterranean coal formations as a means for stimulating the production of coalbed methane. A highly conductive proppant pack is emplaced in the fracture during the fracturing treatment that has a particle size gradient ranging from about 40/70 mesh at the leading tip of the fracture to about 12/20 mesh at the trailing base of the fracture. The fracturing process is conventional in the sense that the materials and equipment used in the process are well known. The manner in which such materials and equipment are used to fracture coal degasification wells is new.

Abstract: Apparatus for stabiliing a rotary drill string and drill bit used to drill a borehole in a material, such as a subterranean formation, includes an imbalanced drill collar and a drill bit connected to the drill collar. The imbalanced drill collar creates a drill string imbalance force directed radially outwardly from the center of rotation of the drill collar through a predetermined area on the circumference of the drill collar and urges the predetermined area into contact with the borehole wall as the drill string rotates. The drill bit includes a drilling surface for contacting the material and drilling the borehole in the material, the drilling surface including a cutting zone for cutting the borehole in the material and the bearing zone having a low coefficient of friction relative to the cutting zone.

Abstract: Time-invariant multichannel seismic data filters are applied to seismic data traces for rejecting coherent noise signals within a time-space window. In one embodiment, these filters are applied for rejecting all signals having the same trace-to-trace slopes as the coherent noise signal. Segments of the filtered traces that are within the time-space window are added to corresponding segments of unfiltered traces outside of the time window for producing reconstituted time-variantly filtered traces. In another embodiment, these filters are applied for rejecting the coherent noise signals and passing all other signals within the time-space window and passing all signals outside of the window for producing time-variantly filtered traces.

Abstract: A method of acquiring seismic data is disclosed which includes a horizontal towed receiver array in conjunction with at least one vertically oriented receiver array formed from a plurality of receiver elements spaced apart vertically within a plurality of cable. By simultaneously recording the data from both arrays, seismic data can be acquired for locations directly beneath a fixed obstruction, which a towing vessel has had to steer around.

Abstract: A hydrocyclone separator for separating oil from water includes a substantially cylindrical first portion with a central overflow outlet and at least one tangential flow inlet, an essentially single angled conical second portion, and a substantially cylindrical third portion, with a central underflow outlet. The hydrocyclone separator is made in accordance with the following relationships:do<du<Dc0.1.ltoreq. di/Dc.ltoreq. 0.40.01.ltoreq. do/Dc.ltoreq. 0.060.ltoreq. Lc/Dc.congruent. 2.03.degree..ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq. 30.degree.0.1.ltoreq. du/Dc.ltoreq. 0.59.ltoreq. Ls/Dc.

Abstract: A source array useful in vertical seismic profiling is disclosed wherein a first set of source elements having horizontal extent is spaced to have at least a first direction and a second direction, and a second set of source elements having vertical extent are spaced below the first set of source elements. The source elements in the source array are sequentially activated to focus the seismic energy along selected radial paths through the earth's subsurface.

Abstract: Sulfur species are removed from a Claus plant tailgas stream by contacting with ZnO producing ZnS. ZnS is regenerated to ZnO by contacting with dilute O.sub.2 under conditions for reducing the volume of regeneration recycle to the Claus plant.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for preventing oil droplet size reduction when introducing an oil/water stream into an oil-from-water separation unit. The system includes a conduit extending from a source of the oil/water stream to an inlet of the oil-from-water separation unit, which can be one or more hydrocyclone separators, centrifuges, settling tanks and the like. A throttling device is operatively connected to the conduit for regulating the quantity of the oil/water stream passing therethrough. The throttling device eliminates the shearing of the fluid, thereby preventing oil droplet size reduction. The throttling device can include a progressive cavity motor with a rotation control mechanism connected to the rotor of the motor to control the rpm of the rotor, and thus the quantity and pressure of the fluid passing therethrough.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for orienting a collar on a fluid conducting conduit, such as a drill string, includes an orifice through the wall of the conduit and a latch assembly for latching the collar to the conduit. The latch assembly allows fluid communication through the orifice and rotates the collar when the conduit is rotated in a first direction about the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The latch assembly unlatches the collar from the conduit, prevents fluid communication through the orifice, and allows the conduit to rotate relative to the collar when the conduit is rotated ion a second, opposite direction.