Abstract: A hollow truncated cone made from material with elastic properties which expands around a core being cut from the sidewall of a borehole drilled in the earth with a core cutting means rigidly connected to a core barrel. The hollow truncated core is held in position inside the core barrel such that it does not rotate with the core cutting means during the cutting of a core.

Abstract: A method of converting coal and other solid carbonaceous material to gaseous and liquid products by heating the coal in the presence of the gaseous effluent to a sufficient temperature for pyrolyzing the coal to produce liquid and gaseous products. Thereafter, further gasifying the coal to produce a gaseous effluent to be used in subsequent steps to produce liquid and gaseous products.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the rotational torque of a drill bit powered by a downhole motor. The downhole motor is suspended from a hydraulic ram at the lower end of a string of drill pipe. A torque sensor detects the reactive torque in the downhole motor during drilling. In response to the detected torque level, pressurized drilling fluid from the downhole motor is provided to the hydraulic ram thereby varying the weight applied to the drill bit in order to maintain a constant torque level.

Abstract: An improved drill bit and a method for making the same. A body having an upper end is adapted for connection to a source of rotary motion. A curved surface formed on the lower end of the body includes a plurality of cutting elements embedded therein. A port provides drilling fluid between the curved surface and the bore during drilling. The cutting elements and fluid courses formed on the curved surface define a gap between the surface and the bore during drilling. The gap is formed to provide no more than a substantially linear reduction in drilling fluid pressure with increasing bit radius. In making the bit, a bottomhole pattern and a substantially constant flow area are selected. Dimensions of the lower drill bit surface are calculated to provide the selected flow area over the surface when the bit is in position above the bottomhole pattern.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of displacing reservoir fluids through a subterranean retrograde or gas-condensate reservoir wherein a displacement fluid is introduced into the reservoir and it is displaced along with the reservoir fluids through the reservoir. The displacement fluid can be inherently miscible with the reservoir fluids at the temperture and pressure of the reservoir and comprises a nonoxidizing gas selected from a group consisting of carbon dioxide, flue gas, nitrogen, residue gas, and mixtures thereof in selected proportions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus operable on a wireline logging cable for sampling and testing bore hole fluids, transmitting the results obtained from such testing to the surface for determination whether or not the particular sample undergoing testing should be collected and brought to the surface. The apparatus comprises a downhole tool having an inflatable double packer for isolating an interval of the bore hole coupled with a hydraulic pump, the pump being utilized sequentially to inflate the double packer and isolate an interval of the bore hole and to remove fluids from the isolated interval to test chamber means where resistivity, redox potential (Eh) and acidity (pH) are determined, and finally to dispose of selected samples to one or more sample container chambers within said tool or to reject them into the bore hole if not selected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting a tubular element to an underwater wellhead. A wellhead extension having a threaded lower end is threadably connected to an underwater wellhead. A stinger connected to a lower end of a string of riser pipe is lowered into the wellhead extension until the riser pipe is sealably connected to the extension spool. In the event of damage to the hanger threads, a housing is mounted on the lower end of a string of riser pipe or a wellhead extension. A substantially tubular nut is threadably engaged with the housing and includes a set of downwardly-projecting lugs on the lower end of the nut. On the lower portion of the housing, a set of slips and an annular seal are mounted. The housing is lowered until the lugs are engaged with flow-by ports in the wellhead hanger. Rotation of the pipe effects longitudinal housing movement relative to the nut which sets the slips thereby joining the housing to the hanger, and energizes the seal between the wellhead and the housing.

Abstract: A remotely releasable pipe connector is described and comprises a first tubular connector or "pin connector" having at least one laterally extending locking member, and a slotted second tubular connector or "box connector" cooperatively disposable over the first tubular connector with the slots thereof removably engaging the first tubulars connector's locking members. One or more shear plates are attachable to the second tubular connector and are positioned to prevent the release of the locking members from the slots in the second tubular connector until the shear plates are subjected to a force greater than or equal to a predetermined force.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for introducing a mixture of dry catalyst and a hydrocarbon liquid into a polymerization reactor vessel. The apparatus comprises a enclosed mixing tank with rotating mixing blades and a rotatable shot valve spaced below the mixing tank. The shot valve can be rotated from a first position in communication with an opening in the lower portion of the mixing tank to a second position in communication with a hydrocarbon feed conduit that provides hydrocarbon liquid to the polymerization reactor vessel. A bypass conduit is provided for introducing hydrocarbon liquid from the hydrocarbon feed conduit into the mixing tank wherein the interior of the mixing tank is maintained at the same pressure as the hydrocarbon feed conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Jacquard control system for controlling fluid flow within an apparatus such as a downhole tool. Such Jacquard control system includes at least one control member having a plurality of holes therethrough, the holes being arranged in a plurality of patterns cooperable with fluid passageways within the downhole tool. Each pattern of holes permits fluid flow within the downhole tool to carry out a desired function. Also included is a device to selectively adjust the position of the at least one control member relative to the fluid passageways to permit the fluid flow to carry out the desired functions. A downhole fluid sampler and tester is disclosed which includes a Jacquard control system, for withdrawing fluid from a subterranean formation; determining at least one property of the withdrawn fluid, such as EH, pH, temperature, pressure and resistivity, and, if desired, obtaining a sample of the withdrawn fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a supervisory control system for remotely monitoring and controlling at least one operational device. The system includes at least one microremote in association with an operational device and includes an input device for receiving a signal indicative of a parameter associated with the operational device and logic circuitry for controlling the operation of the microremote. A microcomputer is in communication with the microremote(s) by way of a communication link, and includes input devices for receiving the signal from the microremote, a memory device for storage of a program or algorithm, and a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the microcomputer and for utilizing the program or algorithm for operation of the supervisory control system. A personality module is removably placed in communication with the microcomputer and includes logic circuitry for controlling the operation of the personality module, and a memory device for storage of at least one program or algorithm.

Abstract: A corrosion inhibitor composition useful for preventing corrosion by solvents used in treating sour gas streams, comprising a quaternary pyridine salt, a surface-active agent and/or a thio compound and an effective amount of a water soluble nickel compound. The composition can also contain a demulsifier to prevent foaming of the resultant solution.

Abstract: Sulfur oxides are removed from a gas by an absorbent comprising at least one inorganic oxide selected from the group consisting of the oxides of aluminum, magnesium, zinc, titanium, and calcium in association with yttrium or yttrium combined with at least one free or combined rare earth metal selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, samarium, and dysprosium, wherein the ratio by weight of inorganic oxide or oxides to yttrium or yttrium combined with a rare earth metal or metals is from about 0.1 to about 30,000. Absorbed sulfur oxides are recovered as a sulfur-containing gas by contacting the spent absorbent with a hydrocarbon in the presence of a hydrocarbon cracking catalyst at a temperture from about 375.degree. to about 900.degree. C. The absorbent can be circulated through a fluidized catalytic cracking process together with the hydrocarbon cracking catalyst to reduce sulfur oxide emissions from the regeneration zone thereof.

Abstract: A system for controlling the vertical movement of a drillstring and which is removably interconnected with a conventional drill rig. The system includes at least one fluidic cylinder and piston assembly removably connected at an upper end to a support, such as the rig's traveling block assembly, and at a lower end to the drillstring. A pump is operatively connected to the cylinder and piston assembly and a control valve device is provided to control the flow of the fluid to and from the cylinder and piston assembly. A computing device is in operative communication with a data measurement system and the control valve device and is used to automatically control the movement of the drillstring in response to data, such as WOB, received from the data measurement system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus operable on a wireline logging cable for sampling and testing bore hole fluids, transmitting the results obtained from such testing to the surface for determination whether or not the particular sample undergoing testing should be collected and brought to the surface. The apparatus comprises a downhole tool having an inflatable double packer for isolating an interval of the bore hole coupled with a hydraulic pump, the pump being utilized sequentially to inflate the double packer and isolate an interval of the bore hole and to remove fluids from the isolated interval to test chamber means where resistivity, redox potential (Eh) and acidity (pH) are determined, and finally to dispose of selected samples to one or more sample container chambers within said tool or to reject them into the bore hole if not selected.

Abstract: A method of completing a wellbore is disclosed wherein a low density spacer fluid is introduced into a wellbore and then a completion fluid, such as a cement slurry, to displace the spacer fluid. The spacer fluid comprises a nonagglomerating carrier fluid, such as water or the like, and discrete dispersible density reducing bodies, such as hollow spheres. The density reducing bodies aid in reducing the hydrostatic head of the spacer fluid, completion fluid, and existing wellbore fluids to prevent the hydrostatic head of such fluids from exceeding the fracture gradient of a highly porous, easily fractured formation.

Abstract: A water-based drilling fluid preparation system having an enclosed mixing chamber, a salt barrel, and piping means for selectively directing fluids exiting the mixing chamber means through the salt supply and to and from a suction pit. The mixing chamber has a first inlet for supplying a first fluid, such as drilling muds, into the mixing chamber, a second inlet for supplying water into the mixing chamber, and a third inlet means for supplying a heated fluid into the mixing chamber, wherein the drilling fluids are mixed in a selectively heated environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and related apparatus for desurging and degassing a liquid stream having hydrocarbon, aqueous and gaseous components, such as from at least one production well. Within the method, the liquid stream is introduced into a vessel or degasser unit through a sparger device which is disposed therein, to distribute the flow of the liquid stream into the vessel, as well as to partially degas the liquid. Upon exiting the sparger device, the liquid passes downward through a body of packing elements within the vessel to further degas the liquid and also to desurge the flow of the liquid stream. Thereafter, any separated gas is removed from an upper portion of the vessel and the degassed liquid is removed through a lower portion of the vessel. The degassed liquid can then be passed to an oil-water separator, such as a vortex separation tank.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement over the simple terminator, which has been applied at the mudline, and at the platform level, to resist very large stresses in the riser pipes when the vertically moored platform (VMP) is subjected to wind, tide and current. A second or short terminator is used with the terminator to form a multiterminator which results in the length and weight of the terminator assembly for a given site being greatly reduced from that of the prior art terminator. Thus, the cost of construction of the terminator assembly is drastically reduced with the use of our invention. Also disclosed is a novel bearing arrangement between the VMP and the terminator assembly.

Abstract: A pump-out plug catcher is disclosed for use within a wellbore to contain a released pump-out plug. The catcher includes a body, pump-out plug retention devices, and an extension member which extends into the body. The body is provided with an axial bore extending therethrough and an enlarged hollow portion in communication with the bore. Pump-out plug retention devices are provided in an upper portion of the body and retain a pump-out plug across the bore until subjected to a predetermined pressure. The extension member is provided with an axial bore extending therethrough which is of a diameter less than pump-out plug. The released pump-out plug catcher apparatus is lowered into a wellbore and set below a retrievable packer assembly. A pump-out plug is connected to the catcher and fluid is introduced down the tubing to force the pump-out plug from its position.